The news of sustainable aviation fuel has been on the rise in recent months, and more airlines are on course to take on SAF as a drop-in fuel for jet travel in the name of carbon emissions reduction efforts. This news shouldn’t mean that companies or organizations should let their guard down on thinking sustainably; in fact, it’s always better to be more vigilant in good times over when the rain is already falling.
Long-distance business travel accounted for roughly 16% of all long-distance travel, 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. Air travel, overall, accounts for about 3% of the globe’s emissions, so there is a significant reason to reduce emissions coming from the tail, But also on the ground.
One of the easiest ways, besides just reducing the amount of travel a company does annually, is to consider other ways to reduce emissions, from a door-to-door, and back again, perspective, including food and accommodations.
Company and organizational benefits to thinking sustainably on the ground and in the air
- Brand building from forward-thinking innovations, which can also attract new investment.
- Employee retention may stay high with increased team engagement.
- Employee productivity can grow with a higher engagement rate.
How can my team start to get more sustainable on the ground for necessary business travel?
One of the best ways is to plan the trip ahead of time to coincide with your sustainability plan. Companies that already have sustainable thinking in their strategic plans will have an easier time adopting new sustainable scenarios.
With this plan, companies can include what type of travel their team will take once they land. Of course, taking into consideration the airline’s sustainability is also vital to reducing emissions. But once you’ve landed, try and plan for access to a low-emissions vehicle, such as an EV or hybrid.
When considering where to eat during a stay for business travel, team members should plan where they might dine when they arrive and check the websites of restaurants for their sustainability plan.
RECAP: Make an annual plan for how team members will travel and how often is a good first step to being sustainable. This plan should also include potential eateries and other supplies ahead of time to create some basic parameters to be more sustainable. Last, consider more efficient transportation on the ground.
One last thing…enjoy the trip.