Alexandra Dowton, Communications and Brand Coordinator, CTM Europe 
Does your business have sustainability targets in place? Do you offer correct waste disposal systems and encourage paperless alternatives? While these methods are all making a difference, you may not realise that the biggest sustainable leakage has nothing to do with the number of documents you print or the mountain of disposable coffee cups in the office bin. There is another part of your business that is causing the largest environmental impact, and you may not be doing anything about it.
Within recent years, the travel industry has united in a push for more sustainable practices across the globe. From airline pacts to reduce CO2 emissions with bio-fuel, to hotel chains eliminating single-use plastics, already we have witnessed a positive impact from these initiatives with carriers such as United Airlines reporting a 45% improvement on fuel efficiency since 1990.
With key suppliers making positive changes in the name of sustainability, the next question to ask is are businesses with travel programmes doing the same?
Millennials are expected to make up over 50% of the global workforce in 2020 and are already holding the majority position for business travellers worldwide. And with 87% of millennials stating they would be more loyal to a company that helps them contribute to social and environmental issues, it is within businesses' best interest to consider adopting sustainable practices into their business travel activities. While there are ways for individuals to be sustainable on the road (see panel to the right), there is a much greater need for businesses to revise their travel policies to ensure organisational-wide sustainability for their travelling workforce.
But how can this be done? When does sustainability override cost?
Air Travel
It's no surprise that air travel contributes the highest level of carbon emissions across entire transportation industry, with the International Air Transport Association claiming aircraft contribute to 2% of man-made CO2 emissions each year. But with air travel growing at an increasing rate and remaining a fundamental part of the business travel economy, it is time that companies discuss their air travel strategy to comply with the growing prominence of ESG - environmental, social and governance criteria. One huge factor to consider is the introduction of corporate NDC, meaning that the past booking behaviours of businesses will largely determine the content they receive in future. By opting for carriers with sustainability targets and initiatives such as bio-fuel and carbon offset in place or flying routes that don't include unnecessary stop-overs, businesses can encourage sustainable air travel for their workforce. Alternatively, for domestic and short-haul travel, set policies in place that encourage rail or car hire.
Hotel
One of the easiest ways to improve sustainability within your travel programme is by preferencing hotel chains and accommodation providers that prioritise sustainability. This can be examined through their restaurant food sourcing, recycling habits, amenities and services. In recent news, Meliá Hotels International has announced a new sustainable financing agreement, which links 50% of the hotel chain's financing to its performance in sustainability. Voted third most sustainable hotel in the world according to RobecoSAM, Gabriel Escarrer, Executive Vice President and CEO of Meliá Hotels International comments, "These new financing agreements represent a new challenge for us and a stimulus for constant improvement." Travel managers should also encourage travellers to engage in their hotel's sustainability practices, further cementing those supplier/business relationships through aligned aspirations for a cleaner planet.
Ground Transport
Rail travel remains the most sustainable option for ground-travel as it uses less energy per person and per mile than car travel. If road-travel is required, businesses can preference car hire companies that offer electric or hybrid vehicles, saving not only CO2 emissions but money spent on fuel as well. Electric car-charging stations can be located easily in large cities across the UK and Europe and are offered at an increasing number of hotels including certain AccorHotels, Melia, InterContinental Hotels Group and Best Western properties — to name a few.
Cost to the environment vs cost to the business
Long-term sustainability requires investment, from travel suppliers, individual travellers, and companies with a travelling workforce. And while the change to more responsible travel is still fresh, it must be understood that certain decisions may involve a premium cost in the meantime. But when the equilibrium of supply versus demand evens out, we should see sustainable choices become the norm, and the 'sugar tax' of business travel play out.
The best advice for travel managers wanting to improve the sustainability of their travel programmes is to demonstrate the quantifiable benefit to their companies, by changing the attitudes and booking behaviours of their travellers and travel bookers. By working together with their TMC, companies can report on the impact these changes are making.
While designing a travel programme that incorporates these changes to more sustainable practices, ensuring travellers abide to this policy is another story.
Through the adoption of corporate online booking tools, businesses can monitor and ensure travel programme compliance, resulting in greater savings, increased traveller safety and more relevantly — sustainability. By only displaying the preferred, sustainable suppliers, businesses can ensure travellers are selecting responsible travel options. Last but not least, travel managers should share the positive impact of these decisions with their travellers. Celebrating your progress together as a business improves morale and builds stronger employee/business relationships.
Panel: Ethical choices to make when travelling on business
- Carry a re-usable coffee cup (you can purchase foldable versions that make it easy to travel with)
- After a late day in the office, avoid ordering takeaway (which is packaged with lots of single-use plastics) and opt for room service instead
- Take public transport when possible (many big cities offer city bikes to hire)
- Purchase re-usable toiletry containers and refill instead of buying new ones