Sustainability is an ever-important consideration for businesses operating across all sectors. For one, we all have a moral duty to slow the effects of global warming. For another, consumers are increasingly eco-minded and green values are therefore key to retaining and attaining customers and generating profit.
Business travel is often crucial to a company’s success but can be detrimental to the environment, especially if it involves going overseas. Flights and cars produce a significant amount of CO2 emissions, and large meetings and events often require printed paraphernalia that’s ultimately wasted.
Employ these sustainable practices for business travel to lower your company’s carbon footprint without impacting your growth.
Measure your current impact
Begin by measuring the current impact of your business travel on the environment.
This should include calculating your carbon footprint, counting the number of annual trips, and assessing how much paper and plastic waste is produced for each experience.
You can then identify opportunities for improvement and create a green travel policy with a suitable set of sustainable values at its core.
Look for sustainable suppliers
When you’re booking the arrangements for your business trips, look for sustainable suppliers.
Transport
Transport is often the biggest culprit when it comes to carbon emissions. If you usually fly private, consider business jet rental through an eco-minded company that uses sustainable aviation fuel or travelling first class on a commercial plane.
In the same way, you can exchange traditional taxis for energy-efficient private vehicles or public transport such as trains and buses.
Accommodation
As the demand for eco-friendly travel grows, it’s getting easier to find accommodation with green values. Take time to seek out hotels committed to sustainability and support their efforts by prioritising them over their competitors.
Using the same accommodation will help you to build up a mutually beneficial relationship too.
Collaborate with conscious companies
Your business trip is also a chance to collaborate with eco-conscious partners as a way of highlighting your commitment to sustainability and encouraging environmental practices in your industry.
Choose to use venues that champion the environment and make it clear that their green values were behind your decision to use them. You could also co-run an eco-themed event at the venue with a client who has sustainability at their core.
Educate your employees
To truly champion sustainable business travel practices, you need to educate your employees.
Understanding the importance of the changes that you’ve made and why you’ve made them will make them natural ambassadors for the eco aspects of your brand when they’re networking abroad.
You should also encourage your employees to embrace sustainability in other aspects of their travel routine. This might include eating local produce and entertaining clients at independent restaurants, exploring the destination on foot or by bike, and replacing one-use travel products with reusable versions.