Ecological sustainability in the workplace goes beyond simply using recycled paper. That is why Deutsche Bahn has set itself the goal of making employees’ everyday office life as environmentally friendly as possible - from the procurement of sustainable office furniture to the purchase of ecological office materials and energy-efficient printers.
Office furniture purchase - digital and recyclable
Since the beginning of 2026, Deutsche Bahn has been able to order desks, swivel chairs and other furniture that has been professionally refurbished throughout the Group for the first time. The new office furniture program not only saves valuable resources compared to new procurement, but also reduces CO2 emissions and avoids waste. In addition, a new digital platform makes the ordering process even more efficient. In future, preference is to be given to so-called "circular furniture". Where possible, new furniture will only be used if capacities or requirements make this necessary.
There is also a "new" use for "old" furniture. In future, disused office furniture can be easily returned to the cycle. Special partner companies will take the furniture, refurbish it and resell it.
DB has also created an environmentally friendly solution for cases where the use of "circular furniture" is not possible. In the case of new purchases, ecological criteria ensure even greater sustainability. All furniture categories - from tables and chairs to upholstered and workshop furniture - are designed for maximum durability, reparability and reusability. To achieve this, DB and its suppliers rely on modular construction methods and repair-friendly designs. Concrete specifications for recycled content and environmentally friendly certificates such as the FEMB Level Standard guarantee a high degree of ecological sustainability.
Ecological office supplies
For the purchase of office and work materials identified as environmentally friendly on DB’s own platform DB marketplace, ecological minimum requirements have been defined. These include the use of recyclable materials, renewable raw materials, reusable and refillable products, and the avoidance of single-use products.
Particularly eco-friendly items, such as notepads made from recycled paper, are additionally marked in the shop with the label This is green. making them easy to recognize. For this labeling, DB relies on well-known environmental certifications such as the Blue Angel, FSC, and the European ecolabel, all of which ensure compliance with high environmental standards.
Energy-efficient printer fleet in use
Whenever possible, DB avoids the use of paper and promotes a digital office environment. Where paper use cannot be avoided, consumption is reduced and recycled paper is used. The printer fleet is also being converted to energy-efficient devices, with the total number of printers being continuously reduced.
As part of lifecycle management, Deutsche Bahn has already replaced around 90% of printers with energy-efficient models. Thanks to significantly lower average energy consumption, this will allow DB to save around 30% of energy across the entire fleet. All new devices also carry the Blue Angel certification.
If a printer becomes defective, it is professionally refurbished in compliance with data protection requirements. In DB’s depots, individual parts are replaced and devices are made ready for use again. In this way, DB ensures sustainable utilization and extends the lifecycle of its devices.
100% renewable electricity for DB offices
Since the beginning of 2025, all office buildings in Germany supplied by DB Energie have been powered with 100% renewable electricity. This also applies to stations, maintenance depots, and other facilities — for example, signal boxes, switch heaters, and track field lighting.
