Sustainability assessments in the rail industry: Which ones matter for suppliers?

Sustainability ratings, certifications, and ESG tools were long considered voluntary additions. In the rail industry, however, they are increasingly becoming part of tenders and procurement processes. Several developments are driving this shift. Government climate and sustainability targets are increasing the pressure on rail companies to demonstrate their measurable contribution to reducing carbon emissions. New sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements are raising expectations. At the same time, international supplier networks are making standardized assessments increasingly important for evaluating sustainability risks throughout the supply chain.

As part of the report, Switzerland’s three largest rail operators, SBB, BLS, and SOB, were also consulted on the requirements they place on their industry partners. All three operators emphasized that sustainability should be transparent, measurable, and embedded throughout the entire supply chain. For suppliers, demonstrating their sustainability performance is therefore increasingly becoming a prerequisite for participating in tenders and building long-term business relationships.

Sustainability assessments are about much more than administrative work for tenders. When used strategically, they help companies anticipate customer requirements, reduce supply chain risks and strengthen their position in procurement processes and supplier evaluations.

The real value, however, does not lie in the assessment or rating itself. Companies that systematically examine their products and supply chains often identify opportunities that go far beyond achieving a better sustainability score: lower life cycle costs, more resilient supply chains or circular business models and services that stand out in the market.

Through our many years of experience in ecodesign and design for the circular economy projects, we know that the foundations for commercially viable solutions are established during product development. This includes material selection, product architecture, maintainability, and the question of how services can be integrated with the product. Sustainability becomes a competitive advantage when it is not simply documented for tenders but integrated into the development of products and services from the very beginning.

About the report

The report «Sustainability assessments for the rail industry in Switzerland» was commissioned by Swissrail and jointly developed by Milani Design & Consulting and PROSE. It is available to Swissrail members and provides practical guidance, particularly for SMEs, on selecting and implementing sustainability assessments.

Milani Design & Consulting combines strategic product development with ecodesign and circular economy expertise.

Authors

• Nando Schmidlin, Circular Design Strategist
• Nadine Wolf, Lead Innovation & Circular Business Design

PROSE specializes in consulting and engineering for railway technology and rolling stock.

Author

• Chantal Pietsch, Senior Consultant Procurement and Sustainability

Milani develops products and mobility experiences for public transportation—from strategic product development and vehicle interior and exterior design to ecodesign and circular economy innovation.