The Greenbrier Companies released its 2021 environmental, social and governance (ESG) report, which was prepared in accordance with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) framework for the second-straight year.

“I am proud of the measures Greenbrier takes to meet our stakeholders’ needs. This report demonstrates Greenbrier’s dedication to the environment, workplace safety, employee satisfaction and our local communities, among many other important areas,” William A. Furman, chairman and CEO of Greenbrier, said. “Through an incredibly difficult year, Greenbrier’s employees and operations exhibited resiliency, including moving our ESG strategy ahead, enhancing efficiencies across global operations and streamlining our data collection methodology.”

Highlights from the report include:

• The completion of a materiality assessment with perspectives from internal and external stakeholders, including Greenbrier leadership, customers, suppliers and community leaders, to determine the most relevant topics to address in Greenbrier’s ESG program.
• The incorporation of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets specific to Greenbrier’s ESG approach. In 2021, SASB announced the actionable interconnections between its topics and SDG targets, indicating that together, the frameworks enhance existing ESG strategies.
• The achievement of four consecutive years of improved safety results, including company record-breaking safety performance in fiscal 2021.
• An increase in recycled steel content from 47% in 2020 to 51% in 2021. Steel accounts for Greenbrier’s greatest usage of natural resources and its most energy-intensive upstream input. Growing recycled steel content is an identified focus area in Greenbrier’s ESG strategy.
• The hosting of nearly 100 interviews with Greenbrier leaders to establish internal alignment and prioritize inclusion, diversity, equity, access and leadership actions. These conversations allowed employees to share their views on workplace diversity and inclusion and discuss areas for improvement at Greenbrier.
• The completion of all goals in the company’s 2020 ESG report with 2021 deadlines.

“Moving freight by rail or marine barge is among the most environmentally friendly transportation options available. The numbers speak for themselves. Greenhouse gas emissions can decrease by up to 75% by using rail systems instead of trucks to move freight,” Lorie Tekorius, president and chief operating officer of Greenbrier, said. “Greenbrier continually looks for ways to optimize the environmental efficiency of freight transportation products and deliver services more efficiently. Our success today and in the future requires balancing our ESG focus areas with business performance that meets the needs of customers, shareholder and employees.