As sustainability steadily becomes a business priority, reducing the carbon footprint and the environmental impact of corporate travel can help achieve this. A more responsible approach not only helps organisations hit their sustainability targets but can deliver operational and financial benefits. Here are five key ways organisations can lower the carbon footprint of their corporate travel programme.
1. Calculate your business travel emissions
Before you can reduce emissions, you need to know where you stand. Calculating your business travel footprint offers a clear starting point and helps identify the areas that need the most attention.
Reed & Mackay partners with Clarasight and SQUAKE to provide clients with accurate data to measure the carbon footprint of their travel programmes. By understanding your current footprint, you can create realistic targets, develop a meaningful action plan and monitor the effectiveness of new initiatives over time.
2. Build a greener travel programme
A greener travel programme is ‘a structured plan that promotes low-emission travel options across your business’. It should cover everything from daily commutes to client visits and international trips. Although every organisation’s plan will differ, the goal is to reduce unnecessary journeys and shift towards more sustainable transport options. This might involve encouraging public transport, rail services and electric vehicles while reducing reliance on single-user private cars and short-haul flights.
3. Prioritise economy class travel
Flying is one of the largest contributors to business travel emissions. First and business class seats represent a larger share of carbon emissions than economy class. This is due to the increased space, extra services and heavier luggage allowances.
A practical way to cut emissions is by making economy class the default for all business travel. To reinforce this, introducing a formal approval process for any bookings in higher classes adds steps to reduce unnecessary upgrades. This approach not only benefits the environment but also supports fair, policy-led decision-making across the organisation. It encourages travellers to reflect on whether premium options are genuinely needed, making carbon-conscious travel decisions part of everyday business practice.
4. Choose sustainable suppliers
Not all airlines, hotels or car hire companies have the same environmental impact. Choosing sustainable suppliers is a simple but effective way to reduce your travel footprint. For air travel, assess emissions by route and operator, opting for airlines that invest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and offer carbon offset options.
The same principle applies to accommodation. Select hotels with eco-certifications and responsible waste, water and energy management practices. Many hotel groups now publish environmental performance data. By creating a preferred supplier list based on verified environmental credentials, your business can lower emissions and support companies actively working to reduce their environmental impact, aligning travel choices with corporate sustainability goals.
5. Select low-carbon transport options
Rail travel and electric vehicles are more sustainable options for domestic travel. Rail travel is up to 17 times greener than flying for business travel in the UK. And an average train journey puts nearly five times less carbon emissions into the air than making the journey by car.
Where car travel is necessary, choose electric or hybrid vehicles. For city travel, consider public transport options as it reduces congestion and emissions.
By embedding these preferences into your corporate travel policy, businesses can make sustainable choices routine, helping reduce their environmental impact.
Interested in finding out about how to make your corporate travel programme more sustainable?
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