Floods. Hurricanes. Wildfires. Droughts. Melting ice caps. Rising sea levels.
As concerns about the irreversible and devastating effects of climate change grow by the day, sustainability has become a growing priority for businesses around the globe.
In a recent report from the Global Business Travel Association, 92% of business travel professionals cited sustainability as a priority for their company and — with tourism contributing an estimated 8% of the world’s carbon emissions — sustainable business travel policies have become a top priority for corporations looking to trim their environmental impact. The report also found that 76% of travel buyers have or plan to incorporate sustainability objectives into their corporate travel policies.
In this blog post, we examine how the travel industry is answering the call for a more sustainable tourism and business travel approach, along with practical sustainable business travel tips that can help your employees make more eco-friendly choices every time they hit the road.
What is sustainable travel?
Sustainable business travel is a holistic approach that’s grounded in minimizing the harmful effects of corporate travel. It encompasses eco-friendly behaviors focused on business travel emissions reduction, energy efficiency, and waste reduction.
At its heart, a commitment to green business travel involves making conscious decisions to balance the needs of your company with lessening the environmental impact of work-related trips. These decisions can range from reducing carbon emissions from air travel to choosing eco-friendly lodgings, transportation options, meals, and activities throughout the trip.
Why sustainable business travel matters:
- Environmental impact: According to the International Energy Agency, aviation accounted for 2% of global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2022 and has grown faster in recent decades than rail, road, or shipping emissions. The hotel industry also has an outsize carbon footprint: In the US alone, hotels create CO2 emissions equal to 19 volcanic eruptions and create 1.9 billion pounds of waste each year. By choosing sustainable business travel practices, such as supporting airlines that use sustainable aviation fuels and hotels with eco-friendly policies, corporations can make strides towards minimizing the overall environmental impact of work trips.
- Corporate social responsibility: Sustainable business travel is an important pillar of corporate social responsibility and the belief that we all have a responsibility to support environmental, social, and governance initiatives. And an investment in greener travel is not just a one-sided equation: Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability can enhance your company’s reputation and make your organization more attractive to clients, partners, and employees who care about climate change.
- Cost savings: Green corporate travel policies, such as choosing virtual meetings over expensive in-person meetings, can help your company find smart ways to cut expenses and boost productivity while helping curb carbon emissions.
7 sustainable business travel tips for employees
Want to foster a culture of sustainability at your company? When you’re selecting travel providers, prioritize partners who are committed to green business practices. Educate employees about the environmental impact of business travel and make eco-friendly choices a cornerstone of your corporate travel policy. In addition to encouraging employees to adopt sustainable practices, be sure to recognize and reward their environmentally conscious behavior.
If employees ask you, “How can I travel for work sustainably?”, share this list to provide them with actionable tips and ideas that will help them make better choices when they’re planning their next trip:
- Cut back on unnecessary meetings: Before planning any travel, ask yourself if an in-person meeting is really needed. Technology can easily reduce the need for physical travel and virtual meetings, webinars, and teleconferences are effective alternatives that save both time and money.
- Choose green transportation: If a face-to-face meeting is needed, opt for greener transportation options for shorter distances, like trains or buses instead of flights, when possible. If air travel is necessary, choose direct flights to reduce the miles you travel in the air and, when possible, fly on airlines that use sustainable aviation fuel and invest in carbon offset programs that make up for the emissions caused by the flight.
- Don’t just go green. Stay green, too. When booking hotels, choose eco-friendly accommodations that have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving energy, reducing waste, and conserving water. Not sure where to start? Look for American hotels with LEED certifications and when traveling to Europe, Mexico, and parts of Africa and the Middle East, seek out hotels with Green Key certification.
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle on the road: Adopt the same mindful approach to waste that you do at home when you’re traveling. Pack a reusable water bottle and tote, avoid single use plastics and plastic bags, and recycle whenever possible. Many destinations offer recycling programs so familiarize yourself with the local community’s waste disposal practices to cut down on the amount of trash you’re sending to landfills.
- Eat locally and sustainably: Want a delicious way to reduce your carbon footprint? Dine at restaurants that serve local foods and prioritize sustainable ingredients, order meals with a lower environmental impact (such as plant-based options), and ditch the plastic straw.
- Offset your carbon footprint: Consider investing in carbon offset programs to make up for the negative impact of your travels. Many organizations offer these programs, allowing you to contribute to projects that promote renewable energy, reforestation, and other sustainability initiatives.
- Choose sustainable transportation options: It’s tempting to just hail a taxi or an Uber, but using public transportation, biking, or walking is a much more eco-friendly way to get around. (An added bonus? These modes of transportation are also a great way to soak up the local culture!) If you’re renting a car, opt for electric vehicles when possible.
Make corporate travel sustainability your company’s reality
The journey towards responsible travel starts with small choices that can add up to a very real difference. By consistently adopting eco-friendly travel practices that prioritize the well-being of the planet, your company can do its part toward making a more sustainable future a reality.
Join us in shaping a more sustainable future for business travel. Explore our solutions and make a positive impact with American Express Global Business Travel. https://www.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com/business-travel-solutions/
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