1. Measure Your Organisation’s Business Travel Carbon Footprint
The first step to reducing business travel emissions is to measure your company’s travel carbon footprint. Without this measure, it’s impossible to see if your efforts are working or not. This essential data also provides an overview that allows you to see where most of the emissions come from. You’ll know which areas need to become more eco-friendly.
Your business may want to consider hiring a consultancy to measure your company’s business travel emissions. There are also tools that can help you create a baseline of your current corporate travel emissions.
No matter which method you use, a baseline measurement is essential to find out how to lower your business travel carbon emissions.
2. Fly Economy Class
Not many people realise that flying first and business classes generates about twice the carbon emissions of economy class. The reason? The seats in first and business class are larger, which means not many people can sit in these areas of the plane. In addition, these classes also have larger luggage allowances, translating into more weight for the plane. More weight means the plane burns more fuel.
However, flying in economy class is a greener option. Not only do employees flying in economy save the company money on travel costs, but their travel also results in lower carbon emissions. If everyone in the company travels in economy class, your carbon footprint will see a major reduction.
3. Avoid Layovers
Layovers also add to a traveller’s carbon emissions. The reason is that additional fuel is needed for takeoff and landings. Then there are also the ground support services and other services needed while staying at the airport during the layover.
However, by avoiding layovers, a business trip can become more sustainable. However, if layovers are unavoidable, try to keep them as short as possible. Avoid hotel stays and opt to stay in the airport instead.
4. Choose Low-Emission Airlines
Another place to lower your company’s travel carbon emissions is by using low-emission airlines. However, each airline generates different amounts of carbon emissions.
Start by identifying the airlines that serve the routes employees use most often. Then create a list of those airlines that are the most sustainable. You can use the following guidelines to find airlines that create the lowest emissions:
- Amount of CO2 generated for a specific flight and airline.
- Look for airlines that offer offsetting your carbon footprint.
- Check each airline’s website to review their sustainability policy or contact the airline by email to ask about their carbon emission policy.
5. Choose Sustainable Accommodations
Another way to reduce your company’s travel carbon footprint is to choose sustainable accommodations. This is because accommodations follow right behind air or road travel when it comes to producing carbon emissions. For example, consider that only one hotel room generates about 10 to 13 tonnes of CO2 a year. So, choosing more sustainable accommodations can make a huge difference in an organisation’s carbon footprint.
It’s true there are hotels that generate large amounts of carbon emissions through their operations. However, there are certifications hotels must follow in order to be sustainable. Look for hotels that have sustainable practises and their own green travel policies in place.
Again, you can find this information on the hotel’s website or contact the hotel directly for this information.
6. Choose the Greenest Travel Method Possible
Another way to lower your company’s travel carbon emissions is to choose the greenest travel method possible. Of course, it’s essential to consider the trip’s circumstances.
However, it’s still possible to find the greenest travel method for each trip.
Consider the fact that flying generates more CO2 than travelling by train. However, not many people realise that flying can be greener than driving in some circumstances.
However, it all comes down to the route and how many people are travelling. In some cases, driving may be the greenest travel method.
Using public transport is also a great way to cut down on carbon emissions. In many places, it’s possible to use public transport in and between cities. When these options are available, they should be chosen over flying or driving.
7. Reduce Fuel Consumption
There will be times when it’s not possible to avoid driving. Car travel does produce large amounts of carbon emissions; however, there are ways to make travelling by car more sustainable.
For instance, consider investing in electric company cars. If that’s not possible, then rent electric cars for business trips. If that’s not an option, then choose cars with smaller engines, as these use less fuel.
Reducing fuel consumption not only reduces your carbon footprint, but also saves money.
8. Use Green Travel Tax Breaks
When looking for ways to cut travel emissions, consider using green travel tax breaks, too. Some countries offer tax breaks to companies reducing their carbon footprints.
For instance, there may be green tax breaks for buying electric, low-emission cars, offering public transport subscriptions to employees, green commute incentives, and more.
Concluding Thoughts
Companies are becoming more creative in finding ways to reduce their impact on the environment. One of the major ways to become a greener business is to implement a green travel policy.
A green travel policy saves on carbon emissions and saves money in many cases. Not only that but becoming more sustainable can also have a significant impact on a company’s reputation and growth.
