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Sustainability is important for businesses, and rising temperatures have made this a hot topic. Responsible firms know sustainable practices matter for fighting climate change, not just for appearances.
Doing everything online during the pandemic made us all appreciate the value of doing some things face-to-face. So, business travel is still common for many companies. However, we can’t let it cost the Earth, so making business travel more sustainable has become increasingly important.
Certain modes of transportation contribute significantly to carbon emissions. However, eco-friendly business travel isn't solely about the means of reaching your destination. Sustainable travel policy includes accommodation and location, as well as thinking sustainably when planning routes and transport.
Here are some travel policy examples that you can use to reduce your environmental impact whilst staying cost effective and maintaining your team's travel experience.
Although it’s not ideal for digital to replace face-to-face meetings altogether, there are occasions when it can. Identify these occasions and make sure your travel policy clearly stipulates what constitutes necessary business travel.
From booking direct flights and using rail travel where possible, to electric rental vehicles and business taxis, you can get your people where they need to be in a more sustainable way. Set out your priorities clearly in your travel policy, consider offering incentives for choosing sustainable travel companies like FREENOW, who have one of the largest fleets of electric and hybrid vehicles in Europe.
When selecting meeting locations, opt for places that have convenient rail and air connections. These locations can include big cities or venues that are close to public transportation. It is also beneficial to choose venues that are within walking distance from arrival points or hotels.
Choose travel companies and hotels that consider sustainability. Hotels may use solar panels, energy-saving appliances, and promote water conservation. They should also serve food from local sources.
FREENOW, a sustainable transport company, offers electric scooters, bikes, mopeds, and hybrid cars. Make it part of your business travel policy to favour these businesses.
Our sustainable consumption practices can often go awry when we’re travelling. Encourage your travelers to continue their office's sustainable practices while they are travelling. For example, reusable water bottles and toiletries, digital agendas and boarding passes are great for business trips.
To reduce your business travel carbon footprint, choose rail over air travel whenever possible. It's the most effective sustainable option. According to Eurostar, flights emit up to 38 times more emissions than the equivalent rail journey.
When traveling from London to Paris during busy times, the CO2 emissions are 154 g per km by plane. By contrast, the train emits only 4 g per km, making it a far more eco-friendly option. What's more, with high-speed trains, your team will get there just as fast.
Train travel is often more comfortable than flying. There is extra space for your legs, a table, and the freedom to stand up and stretch. Travelling by train is preferable for both the traveler and the environment. It saves time on security checks and waiting at the airport.
Of course, walking or biking still beats taking the train, but we’re talking about business travel here, not a team-building exercise!
Making your business travel more sustainable is not just good for the planet, it’s good for your business and your employees, too. A sustainable travel policy saves time and money. It does this by avoiding unnecessary trips and giving employees control over their travel plans.
Your reputation in this area is also important for both your customers and employees. In fact, it's important for employee engagement, which leads to better performance, loyalty among employees, and a competitive advantage.
All-in-all, it’s a win-win for everybody!
FREENOW's Business Travel Software App, Admin Panel, is a digital tool for managing business travel. It gives you and your employees control over your travel. Its easy-to-use interface contains a range of flexible and sustainable travel options.
The FREENOW Admin Panel can help you create and implement an eco-friendly business travel plan. Admins can use an online booking tool, view carbon emissions reports, and pay monthly invoices instead of individual travel expense submissions.
FREENOW has a large fleet of electric and zero-emission vehicles in Europe. This allows you to make eco-friendly choices and reduce your company's travel carbon footprint.
View all travel options for sustainable choices and use zero-emission taxis, eScooters, eMopeds, and eBikes.
Use CO2 reporting to set sustainability goals and shape your CSR strategy. This helps you make changes to travel policies and lower your overall carbon footprint.
Mobility Budget — you can also give your employees a benefit that helps them make more responsible travel choices to reduce their personal impact on the environment. They get a monthly budget to spend on their personal travel, whether that’s commuting, a night out or holidays.
Find out how our Business Travel solution can boost your sustainability goals here.
n impact on Planet Earth—often not in a good way! So, responsible businesses are realising the importance of sustainability in their practices and not just as a tick-box exercise.
Having to do everything online recently made us all realise that some things are so much better face-to-face. So, business travel remains essential for companies. With the world’s temperatures rising, though, we can’t let it cost the Earth. Which is why improving sustainability in business travel has become so important.
The various modes of transportation are major contributors to our carbon footprint, but sustainable business travel is not just about how you get where you’re going. Sustainable travel policy examples include accommodation and location choices, as well as thinking sustainably when planning routes and transport.
Here are some tips for incorporating sustainable travel ideas into your business travel policy.
Although it’s not ideal for digital to replace face-to-face meetings altogether, there are occasions when it can. Identify these occasions and make sure your travel policy clearly stipulates what constitutes necessary business travel.
From prioritising direct flights and using railway connections where possible to electric rental vehicles and taxis, you can get where you need to go in a more sustainable way. Set out your priorities clearly in your travel policy, consider offering incentives and choose sustainable travel companies—like FREENOW, for example, who have one of the largest fleets of electric and hybrid vehicles in Europe.
Whenever possible, choose locations for your meetings that have direct rail and air connections, such as major cities, and venues that have public transport links or are within walking distance from arrival points or hotels.
Choose travel companies and hotels that prioritise sustainability. Many hotels are incorporating widespread green practices, such as solar panels, energy-saving appliances, water conservation measures, locally-produced food, etc. Additionally, sustainably-minded transport companies like FREENOW offer electric scooters, bikes and mopeds, as well as electric and hybrid cars. Make it part of your business travel policy to favour these businesses.
Our sustainable consumption practices can often go awry when we’re travelling. You probably have sustainable initiatives in place for your corporate sites, so encourage your travellers to maintain these when they’re away from home. Things like reusable water bottles and toiletries, along with digital itineraries and boarding passes are all easily incorporated into your business travel.
In terms of sustainable travel ideas, the most effective carbon-reducing measure you can take is going by train instead of flying, where possible. According to Eurostar, flights emit up to 38 times more emissions than the equivalent rail journey.
For instance, the CO2 emissions for a person travelling from London to Paris (at peak times when the train or plane is fuller and so more efficient) would be 154 g per km for flying and only 4 g per km by train. So, switching from planes to trains can massively reduce your company’s business travel carbon footprint. Plus, with high-speed trains, your team will get there just as fast.
Travelling by train is often more comfortable than by plane, with more leg room, table space and the ability to get up and stretch your legs. Plus, with less time taken for security checks and hanging around at the airport, we see that travelling by rail is actually better for the traveller, as well as the planet.
Of course, walking or biking still beats taking the train, but we’re talking about business travel here, not a team-building exercise!
Making your business travel more sustainable is not just good for the planet, it’s good for your business and your employees, too. A good sustainable travel policy avoids unnecessary trips (and the costs involved) and puts your employees in control of their travel plans—ultimately saving both time and money.
Your reputation in this area is also important for both your customers and employees. In fact, it’s a key element in building employee engagement—which then leads to better operational performance, improved loyalty amongst employees and increased competitive advantage.
All-in-all, it’s a win-win for everybody!
FREENOW’s Business Travel Software App, Admin Panel, is a digital solution for business travel management that puts you and your employees in control of your business travel. Its easy-to-use interface contains a range of flexible and sustainable travel options.
With features like online booking tools, carbon emissions tracking and management of corporate and individual travel policies, FREENOW’s Admin Panel can help you draw up and implement a sustainable business travel policy.
FREENOW boasts one of the largest fleets of electric and zero-emission transport in Europe, helping you make more sustainable choices and reduce your company’s business travel carbon footprint.
See all possible travel options, so you can make the most sustainable choices and take advantage of zero-emission taxis and eScooters, eMopeds and eBikes.
You can use CO2 reporting to set your sustainability targets and power your CSR strategy, enabling you to make adjustments to your travel policies to reduce your overall footprint.
Mobility Budget — when your employees are using FREENOW’s app for business travel, you can also give them a benefit that helps them make more sustainable choices for their personal travel needs. They get a monthly budget to spend on their personal travel, whether that’s commuting, a night out or holidays. There's even a Green Mobility Budget option tailored to sustainable modes of transport!
Find out how our Business Travel solution can boost your sustainability goals here.
