The inclusion of sustainability in business travel can lead to cost savings and other benefits in things like productivity, mitigating environmental impact and general efficiency for business operations.
But the main piece that can lead to positive outcomes is planning strategically from the start.
Much of the focus for planning can be put on long-distance travel that employees might do for a variety of reasons: traveling to regional sites to meet with customers or with other company employees at properties owned by a firm (outside the headquarters), just to name a couple of scenarios. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics in 2011, citing a preliminary analysis of the National Household Travel Survey from 2002, long-distance business trips accounted for 16% of all travel in that category.
Making a plan, from the start or for companies that have been in business for years, even decades, may lead to better outcomes for small, medium and large firms or organizations.
One big thing to remember is that sustainability doesn’t happen alone–the commitment can be advantageous, as already expressed, but company-wide participation and developing real solutions are the best path to obtaining “real” positive outcomes.
How can firms take action to be more sustainable?
A plan, of course, is a good start.
But the considerations and parameters are also important. Not all plans are the same–differences in local services can vary, such as access to airlines, efficient vehicles or other modes of transportation.
One part of planning, however, can occur, whether there is direct access to different modes of transport: when and why travel must occur. Setting up parameters for what constitutes necessary travel when considering the best path for the bottom line and the environment and best social outcomes (including mitigating stress and increasing operational efficiency).
Additionally, firms and organizations can consider videoconferencing and other electronic forms of communication and set guidelines as to why that might be the best decision. With moves like that, on top of high-tech communications devices and processes, other innovations may be reached when considering new paths.
Many solutions exist, but cost considerations are also an important part of seeking the ROI for an investment. For this, planning strategically can also be at the forefront of a good path forward.
Outcomes for choosing a sustainable path
Some of the outcomes to creating a strategic plan for business travel within a firm can lead to, generally, less travel and subsequently fewer carbon emissions. In turn, this path, with less emissions, may lead to a reduction in the effects of climate change, in the long-term.
In the short-term, the economic impact on a company or nonprofit may be reduced. Also, employee efficiency and general health, both physical and mental, can be positively impacted by reducing the amount of travel, where possible. On the physical end of the health spectrum, analysts could include things like general fatigue from travel to higher risks, such as COVID-19. In addition to these benefits, if an individual firm or nonprofit were to discover a new innovation due to switching gears and picking the path less chosen, that could set those entities apart, leaving the competition behind to catch up.