We understand that balancing eco-conscious decisions with business needs can sometimes feel like walking a tightrope. It’s not just about saving the planet; it’s also about saving those “greenbacks” in a way that doesn’t compromise your commitment to the environment. But making green choices can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Travel accounts for 8% of annual global CO2e emissions, 3% of which is from air travel. We recently surveyed more than 100 travel buyers and almost 1,800 business travellers to gauge the importance of environmental sustainability in business travel.
Here are a few tips to navigate the roadblocks of eco-friendly travel decisions based on our findings:
What if green accommodation availability is limited?
Eco-friendly options aren’t always in plain sight, especially in remote or less developed areas. Our solution? Seven in 10 travellers avoid frequent towel changes and six in 10 refrain from using daily housekeeping. Supporting local vendors or walking where possible are also popular choices to reduce your carbon footprint at your destination.
How do I combat higher costs?
It’s true; opting for green can mean paying a premium. In fact, over half of the travellers interviewed are willing to take fewer but longer business trips or try new, more sustainable ways of travelling. Still, only 30% are willing to pay more for travel, including carbon offsets or the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). To reduce costs, more and more travellers are sharing ground transportation and choosing economy class over business class as frequent recommendations by their companies. We help you navigate these costs to help make sustainable travel choices more accessible.
When Green flight options aren’t always convenient
Yes, choosing the green option might mean adjusting to longer travel times or less direct routes. To get around this hurdle, a lot of customers are combining trips, which allows travellers to take direct flights instead of connecting flights and limiting the number of employees on the same trip. Where travellers do need to book a connecting flight, think about spending time in airport lounges to unwind and relax or exploring your stop-over destination to kill time en route.
Help! Where to start navigating carbon offsetting
The intricacies of carbon offsetting programs can overwhelm even the most seasoned travellers. Sustainability practices even differ from region to region. For example, companies in EMEA focus on reducing travel volumes and travelling by train instead of plane, while employers in APAC prefer to promote direct flights and eco-friendly hotels. We simplify this process by consulting with you and connecting you to the right solutions for your business in a tangible way and by providing reporting to help you identify the gaps to help you to make choices that make a difference.
In South Africa, we can assist you with carbon offset carbon credits into renewable energy projects through the United Nations Certified Emission Reduction programs United Nations online platform
for voluntary cancellation of certified emission reductions (CERs) (climateneutralnow.org) This includes reporting calculating and reporting on CO² emissions for your company travel, providing guidance on mandating greener travel behaviour and facilitating and managing of carbon offset projects.
Because forest restoration is one of the most effective solutions to fight climate change, we also partners with Trees4Travel who invests in reforestation projects by translating trips into trees planted. They simply calculate the carbon emissions associated with a trip, and based on the calculated footprint, travellers are offered the option to offset their emissions by contributing a specific amount that goes towards tree-planting projects around the world.
The last word
Beyond green targets and carbon footprint legislation, it’s generally true that more than ticking boxes, we want to be doing what’s right for the planet. By tackling these challenges together, we can transform the way we travel, ensuring our journeys contribute positively to the planet we all share.
Our team is dedicated to simplifying this landscape for you, identifying not only the most sustainable travel options but also those that offer the best value for your investment. Let us guide you through the complexities of eco-conscious travel, making your business trips sustainable, impactful, and aligned with your corporate values. Together, let’s pave the way for a greener future, one trip at a time.
