Consulting and services giant Capita
is aiming to cut its corporate travel by 75 per cent by 2030, compared to a 2019 baseline, by making meetings virtual by default.
The company has announced its “virtual
first” approach will be used for all meetings, including client meetings and
regular team check-ins, following its "successful hybrid working model" during Covid.
“While office spaces will still
be used for colleagues, clients and partners to benefit from collaborative working,
offices will be used carefully and appropriately to ensure people only travel
when they need to,” the company said in a statement.
The company has committed to be
net zero across all parts of its business by 2035 and said that corporate travel emissions were
reduced by 71 per cent in Covid-hit 2020 when travel ground to a standstill.
Jon Lewis, the company’s CEO,
said, “I believe passionately that businesses have a vital role to play in
helping tackle the climate emergency, and as leaders we must step up to drive
through significant, sustainable changes to how our organisations operate.”
In March this year, the company
announced that it planned to sell off is travel management division Capita
Travel and Events; the division was rebranded as agiito in July.
James Parkhouse, agiito’s CEO, said: “Agiito, as a
responsible travel, meetings and events provider, work with all our clients and
partners to help them deliver on their climate, sustainability and business
goals by ensuring they have the tools and capabilities to connect their people,
whether in person or virtually.
“Whilst some of our customers are encouraging
employees to think about whether more meetings can be held virtually,
face-to-face meetings will remain an important way for people to do business.”