OREANDA-NEWS. November 20, 2014. The first International Forum "Green Logistics: Ideas. Practice. Perspectives" was held in the Finnish capital Helsinki.

The event was attended by the heads of state authorities, environmental organisations, leading transport, logistics, industry and trade associations and representatives of the academic community in Russia, the CIS, the Baltic States and foreign countries.

Russian Railways was represented at the forum by the Company's Vice-President Victor Stepov.

At the event, a discussion was held on "Green Logistics: Fashionable or Profitable?", along with two thematic sessions on IT-technologies and resource conservation as key elements in green logistics.

The participants in the international session agreed that the modern market, based on examples of the most efficient companies, understands that in addition to the speed of work, it is also necessary to take into account the environmental friendliness of transporting goods.

"In connection with the global increase in transport and the transport complex's increasing impact on the environment, The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the World Health Organisation recommend using the most environmentally friendly modes of transport, in particular rail", said Viktor Stepov.

The Company Vice-President stressed that at Russian Railways, complying with environmental principles was among its main approaches when determining the Company's development.

Russian Railways is consistently implementing its "Environmental Strategy up to 2017 and in the Long-Term to 2030".

The Company is introducing innovative technologie to reduce air and water pollution, increase the reuse and disposal of waste products, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution, improve the environmental management system and monitor its environmental impact, and introduce a system of environmental management and green standards.

Since 2011, Russian Railways has reduced the emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere from stationary sources by 18%, reduced discharges of inadequately treated sewage into bodies of water by 13% and increased the use of waste in industrial processes and disposal on its own properties by 51%.

Between the establishment of OJSC Russian Railways in 2003 and 2014, the Company's investment in environmental protection has amounted to more than 17 billion roubles.