Deutsche Bahn aims to use its essential means of production and products, as well as the resources they contain, efficiently and preserve them for as long as possible. Wherever feasible, DB avoids using paper. When paper use cannot be avoided, the company reduces consumption and relies on recycled paper. Offices and many publications have already largely switched to recycled paper.

In its employee restaurants, DB also relies on recycled paper. For example, napkins are made from recycled paper. Environmentally friendly paper is standard on trains as well: recycled paper is used in toilets, and menus and table displays in on-board catering are printed on FSC-certified paper from sustainably managed forests. Snack menus and placemats are made entirely from recycled paper certified with the Blue Angel eco-label. The placemats are produced regionally in Brandenburg using recycled paper from Berlin. This saves wood, energy, and water compared to conventional virgin fiber paper.