From ground transportation to flight options and hotel amenities, sustainability efforts in corporate travel continue to grow across all sectors of the industry. There are numerous opportunities to implement sustainable practices in every aspect of business travel, and travel managers play a crucial role in shaping greener travel programs. However, those who manage travel may want clear guidance on where to focus their efforts for the most significant impact.

To build a more eco-conscious travel program, an organization must create a comprehensive sustainable travel policy, make sustainability a priority in purchasing decisions, and invest in employee education.

Let’s explore these three essential recommendations further:

1. Develop a Sustainable Travel Policy

Establishing a greener travel policy is essential for companies looking to integrate sustainability into their business travel practices, particularly in reducing emissions from employee travel. A well-crafted policy should include guidelines for selecting eco-friendly transportation options, promoting sustainable meetings, and encouraging the use of accommodations that prioritize sustainability. By setting measurable goals within travel planning, organizations can effectively track their carbon footprint and work toward meaningful reduction targets.

A sustainable employee travel policy is key to both reducing the environmental impact of a company’s value chain and fostering responsible travel habits among employees. At Direct Travel, we work with our clients to develop sustainable travel programs that align with their corporate objectives.

- Matt Esper, Director of Sustainability & Social Impact, Direct Travel

Collaborating with experienced travel management companies can streamline the implementation of these policies, and empower employees to make responsible travel choices that align with corporate sustainability objectives and foster a greener future.

2. Consider Sustainability When Buying Travel

Integrating sustainability into travel purchasing decisions is another crucial step toward developing a more eco-conscious travel program. This approach involves evaluating sustainability across the entire travel lifecycle, including air travel, ground transportation, and accommodations.

Prioritize Sustainable Flying Options

Making thoughtful flight decisions can reduce environmental impact when traveling by air. To lower a trip’s overall carbon footprint, encourage employees to select options with fewer layovers and connections. Direct flights not only save time, they also reduce carbon emissions since takeoffs and landings are the most fuel-intensive parts of a flight.

An additional way to fly more consciously is to support airlines that adopt sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint, such as cleaner fuel, efficient operations, and fleet-wide fuel efficiency.

For companies looking to further lower their carbon footprint, purchasing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) certificates is another strategy because SAF offers a cleaner alternative to conventional jet fuel. At Direct Travel, we help clients access SAF from leading producers, seamlessly integrating it into their travel program to meet their carbon reduction goals. Additionally, our Direct ATPI Halo offers high-quality carbon offsets, connecting clients to meaningful, third-party verified climate projects.

Consider Sustainable Ground Transportation

Depending on a traveler’s destination, certain transportation options may prove to be more sustainable than others. Traveling by train, for instance, has become even easier to plan thanks to the recent data integrations between Google and Amtrak.

Ride share companies have also continued to introduce sustainability features, enticing travelers to choose the greener option when ordering a ride. In fact, Uber now has enough electric vehicle drivers to enable an EV-only fleet in more than 40 cities globally.

If renting a car is the most logical choice, consider renting an electric vehicle. Since Enterprise Rent-a-Car shares that EV customer satisfaction is closely tied to the charging experience while on route or at destinations, business travelers will be pleased to learn that it has steadily become more convenient to charge EVs right from their hotel.

Seek Out Accommodations with EV Chargers

EV charging infrastructure is increasingly prevalent among hotel operators, and many hospitality brands are actively expanding their EV charging facilities. For example, IHG Hotels & Resorts currently has 1,100 hotels with EV chargers and is working to scale this across all their hotels in the US and Canada.

Hilton has installed EV chargers at over 1,850 properties so far, and plans to add 20,000 chargers at 2,000 locations throughout North America. Hilton also reveals that its web searches for “EV charging” has had the fastest volume of growth to-date, jumping from fourth to second highest in converting searches to stays.

Business travelers value hotel offerings that complement their daily routines, which is one of the reasons there is interest in this charging technology. Having access to EV chargers not only improves the experience for travelers who need them, but it also positions that hotel as a forward-thinking, environmentally friendly establishment.

Partner with Sustainable Hotel Suppliers

Those who manage travel can contribute to their organization’s sustainability efforts and bring added value to their travel program by partnering with eco-conscious suppliers.

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) recently released a robust guide for corporate travel buyers on how to select hotel suppliers based on sustainability criteria. The resource includes a comprehensive list of questions, and buyers are encouraged to select those that suit their organization’s specific sustainability goals. When conducting an RFP, consider asking:

• Does your hotel have a formal sustainability policy with specific and trackable goals?
• Is a portion of your hotel's energy sourced from renewable sources?
• Does your hotel reuse water?
• Has your hotel implemented food waste reduction initiatives?
• Does your hotel use cleaning products certified as sustainable by a recognized eco-label?
• Does your hotel invest in community or local sustainability projects?

Working with suppliers who share a common goal and have implemented clear plans and metrics for reporting is one way to immediately lessen the impact of a travel program on the environment.

3. Educate Employees to Make Greener Travel Choices

Just as the organization can choose to work with responsible suppliers, efforts can also be made at the individual level. Here are just a few of the many additional steps travelers can take to be more sustainable during their business trips:

• Pack lightly. This reduces a traveler's carbon footprint by decreasing aircraft weight, which is directly tied to fuel consumption and emissions. (Not to mention ditching the checked bag saves time at the airport.)
• Bring a reusable water bottle. With most airports, hotels, and business centers offering filtered water stations, it’s more convenient than ever to avoid plastic bottles.
• Use your own toiletries. Even as many hotels are moving away from single-use products, consider reducing reliance on a hotel’s amenities.
• Conserve energy. Turn off lights, electronics, and air conditioning when leaving the room. Reduce shower duration to conserve water and minimize the environmental impact of the stay.
• Opt-out of daily room cleaning. Utilize housekeeping for longer trips only, or inquire if the hotel has a towel/linen reuse program where items are replaced less frequently.
• Reduce paper consumption. When possible, request a digital version of reservation confirmations, receipts, and invoices.

Simplify Your Sustainability Efforts with a TMC

When it comes to asking the right questions and making meaningful progress toward a more sustainable travel program, those who manage travel can rely on their travel management company. A TMC can be a trusted partner in advising the organization on how to make greener choices.

At Direct Travel, we support our clients in reaching their sustainability objectives as part of our ongoing management services. For companies looking to take their sustainability commitment to the next level, we offer enhanced solutions. This can include sustainable travel program planning and supplier assessments through our Direct View Consulting, or as previously mentioned, providing a streamlined solution for carbon offsets with Direct ATPI Halo.

To learn more about how Direct Travel’s industry-leading approaches can support your organization’s unique sustainability efforts, contact our team.