Deutsche Bahn considers its entire value chain for resource protection, from procurement and operational use to disposal. The company aims to use essential production resources and products carefully and preserve them for as long as possible. In various upcycling projects, DB gives old products and used materials a second life. Together with selected partners, these items are processed into new, high-quality products.
Environmental protection is in the bag
A DB internal service provider for media and communication technology, for example, makes pencil cases as well as laptop and shopping bags from old construction and advertising banners.
The DB maintenance depot in Wittenberge produces bags from leftover upholstery materials, giving the seat covers of Regio and ICE trains a second life. The familiar patterns are transformed by DB employees into protective covers for smartphones, tablets, and bicycle bags.
DIY upcycling
Parts of the red tarpaulins from DB Cargo freight cars are also used for upcycling. At various events such as trade fairs, visitors can actively create keychains and other giveaways from these materials.
From plastic waste to seat covers
In DB Lounges, customers can pass the time sustainably. Around one-third of the sofa seat covers in premium areas are made from Oceanic fabric by Camira. In this special upcycling project, plastic waste from the oceans is turned into new yarn. Each meter of the so-called SeaQual polyester contains the equivalent of around 26 plastic bottles. The resulting Oceanic fabric is therefore made entirely from recycled plastic and carries the Oeko-Tex 100 certification.
Upcycling products at bahnshop.de
In collaboration with Berlin designer Daniel Kroh, Deutsche Bahn has given some of its old corporate clothing a second life. Old shirts and vests have been transformed into unique garments, such as as a sleeve bag and a peaked cap. Accessories like eyeglass cases, sleep masks, or pens are also part of the upcycling collection on bahnshop.de. All products are individually made from parts of old corporate clothing. For example, old DB shirts were woven into recycled yarn for pens and then hardened with bio-resin. The cases are sewn from old pants and skirts.
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