Sustainability is no longer a trend but a necessity for corporate travel. Regardless of the industry, every company faces increasing pressure from the government to reduce its carbon emissions. On top of this, employee expectations for more sustainable ways to travel are growing as awareness of global needs spreads. 

Studies show that 8 in 10 business travelers would be more inclined to work for companies that incorporate sustainability into their corporate travel policies. These aren’t figures that businesses can easily ignore when stress and employee burnout continue to threaten retention rates. 

So, now that global mobility is rebounding to what it once was pre-pandemic, how does your company’s sustainability initiative compare? 

Sustainability in the business travel sector 

• Nearly three-quarters of travel managers say they have a sustainability manager/team that oversees sustainability matters in the company — 40% of these travel managers regularly interact with their sustainability manager. 
• 89% of those in the industry say that sustainability is already a company priority. 
• 76% of travel managers have already incorporated or plan to incorporate sustainability objectives into their company’s travel policies.

Carbon offset programs 

A huge part of accommodating sustainability in business travel is offsetting carbon emissions. Almost half of sustainability managers work on this often, or very often, with a further 26% focusing on carbon offsetting sometimes. 

What is carbon offsetting? 

Carbon offsetting is when a company funds programs that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to counteract the carbon footprint they create when traveling for business. 

How else can companies reduce their business travel carbon footprint? 

Transport 

When it comes to transport, there are a number of ways in which travel managers can minimize the impact on the environment. Where possible, booking direct flights to the destination helps to avoid layovers and additional air time. Flying economy instead of business class is thought to use half the amount of CO2, as passengers take up half the space on the aircraft. Even minor changes, such as hiring an electric car, using public transportation and choosing low-emission airlines, can also make a huge difference in terms of corporate travel sustainability. 

Housing 

The average CO2 generated per room per year in the UK is 10 to 13 tonnes, highlighting the importance of green housing. It’s thought that hotels consume more energy than other types of accommodation, likely due to their additional communal rooms. For this reason, short-term rentals, serviced apartments, or condos may be more eco-friendly options for business travelers. 

According to a survey by The Apartment Network and ISAAP, 57% of serviced accommodation providers have an environmental or sustainability policy in place, with almost two-thirds stating they participate in practices to check their carbon impact. 

Another way to ensure housing is sustainable is by checking for eco-certifications — industry-acknowledged standards which have been achieved. In the US, for example, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System credits hotels and other buildings that meet their environmental and human health ratings. 

Policies 

Create a green corporate policy for those traveling for the company. Set clear goals to reduce the impact of trips and relocations. Maybe that means choosing to send your employees away on trips longer than 1-2 days and combining meetings into the same trip to minimize traveling or encouraging the use of e-ticketing over printing documents. Providing training on how to be more eco-friendly during travel and offering employees incentives can help to ensure business travelers stick to your corporate policies. 

The demand is there for better sustainable practices in corporate travel from both the traveler and the planet. Every small step or decision a company makes during the business travel planning process can contribute to cutting its overall carbon footprint — whether that’s how your employee gets to their destination, where they stay, or the rules you put in place for them to follow. 

3Sixty

3Sixty is the business travel industry’s most secure and intuitive accommodation platform, offering over one million pre-vetted, quality rooms in 60 countries around the world. We’re committed to doing our bit for the planet and have a corporate eco-goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2023. 

Try our all-in-one online booking tool to find your next corporate stay.