Sustainable practices are important in corporate travel management for a variety of reasons:

• Business travel contributes to 14% of total worldwide travel emissions, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. This is increasing as more people travel for work.

• Businesses can save money on fuel and other expenses. Employees who work for organizations that are devoted to sustainability may be more likely to be engaged and productive.

• Consumers are increasingly looking for businesses that are devoted to sustainability in today’s society.

 

Business travel plays a vital role in maintaining global connections, fostering partnerships, and driving growth, but it comes at a cost.

Air travel alone accounts for a significant share of global carbon emissions, with corporate travel contributing a large portion of that footprint. Frequent flights, short hotel stays, and reliance on non-renewable transport modes all add up, placing pressure on the environment and accelerating climate change.

In the face of growing environmental concerns, adopting sustainable travel practices is no longer optional for forward-thinking businesses. Reducing emissions from corporate travel demonstrates a company’s commitment to sustainability, an increasingly important value for investors, employees, and customers alike.

It also aligns with broader ESG reporting requirements and helps businesses future-proof their operations against rising carbon costs and regulatory pressures.

Beyond environmental benefits, sustainable travel practices can lead to operational efficiencies and cost savings. Streamlining travel policies, encouraging remote collaboration where possible, and using sustainable suppliers often reduces unnecessary travel and improves budgeting.

It can also increase employee satisfaction and wellbeing, as less frequent, better-planned trips reduce fatigue and improve work-life balance.

Ultimately, integrating sustainable practices into corporate travel reflects a company’s broader values. It shows that the business not only cares about profit, but also about people and the planet, an essential stance in today’s socially and environmentally conscious market.

Defining Sustainable Travel for Businesses

Sustainable business travel is the practice of planning and managing business travel in a way that minimizes the environmental impact.

Sustainable business travel focuses on reducing the environmental and social implications of business travel. This can be done by choosing the most sustainable transportation options, staying in sustainable hotels, reducing waste, and offsetting emissions.

It further entails conserving resources and taking steps to prevent pollution in the environment. Using public transit, carpooling, teleworking, and webinar conferencing for business meetings, and choosing eco-friendly accommodations are all examples of key sustainable corporate travel practices. Businesses can also concentrate on collaborating with responsible suppliers, embracing new technologies, and utilizing alternative fuels.

Furthermore, firms can reward their employees to pick tactics such as eco-friendly travel, wise planning, and allowing employees to work from home.

 

Benefits of Sustainable Corporate Travel for Companies

There are several advantages of environmentally friendly business travel:

• Research has shown that employees who travel for business are more likely to experience stress, weariness, and health issues. By minimizing travel time, providing healthier food options, and encouraging physical activity, sustainable business travel practices can help to alleviate these issues.

• By decreasing stress and exhaustion and offering a more delightful travel experience, sustainable business travel practices can help to increase employee productivity.

• By demonstrating the company’s commitment to sustainability, sustainable business travel practices can help to improve customer relationships.

 

How Can My Company Make Business Travel More Sustainable?

Making corporate travel more sustainable doesn’t require an overhaul of your entire travel programme, but it does require a shift in mindset and a commitment to smarter decision-making.

Fortunately, there are practical, high-impact strategies your company can adopt to reduce its travel-related carbon footprint while still supporting your business goals.

 

Prioritise Low-Carbon Transportation

Start by evaluating how your teams travel. Where possible, encourage rail travel instead of short-haul flights, as trains produce significantly fewer emissions. For air travel, choose direct flights (which are more fuel-efficient), and opt for airlines with modern, fuel-efficient fleets.

Encourage employees to use public transport, hybrid taxis, or carpooling options when travelling locally.

 

Partner with Eco-Certified Accommodations

When booking hotels, look for sustainability certifications such as Green Key, EarthCheck, or LEED. These properties often have energy-efficient systems, water-saving measures, recycling programmes, and sustainable sourcing practices. Platforms like ITILITE make it easier to filter for eco-friendly stays and monitor sustainability scores across hotel options.

 

Adopt a Clear Sustainable Travel Policy

Develop a travel policy that includes guidelines on preferred travel modes, approved accommodation partners, and responsible booking behaviours. Empower employees with clear criteria that align with your sustainability goals, such as avoiding unnecessary travel and combining meetings into a single trip.

 

Invest in Technology for Virtual Collaboration

Before greenlighting travel, assess whether the goal can be achieved through virtual meetings. With high-quality digital tools and platforms, many interactions can be handled remotely, reducing emissions, saving money, and improving employee work-life balance.

 

Offset Carbon Emissions Transparently

For unavoidable travel, implement a verified carbon offset programme. Use platforms that partner with trusted offset providers and clearly communicate where funds are allocated, such as reforestation, renewable energy, or clean water projects.

 

Track and Report Travel Emissions

Use integrated tools (like ITILITE’s sustainability dashboards) to monitor emissions by traveller, department, or project. This data can inform annual ESG reporting and help you continuously optimise your strategy.

How Do Carbon Offsets Work for Business Travel?

Carbon offsetting is a practical way for businesses to take responsibility for the environmental impact of their travel. It involves calculating the greenhouse gas emissions generated by business trips and investing in certified environmental projects that reduce or remove an equivalent amount of carbon from the atmosphere.

These projects vary widely, from reforestation and renewable energy to methane capture and clean cookstove initiatives in developing regions. By purchasing carbon credits tied to these projects, companies can effectively “offset” their emissions, helping to mitigate their contribution to climate change.

To implement carbon offsetting effectively, businesses must first measure their travel-related emissions accurately. This can be done using travel management platforms or sustainability tools that track emissions per trip.

Once data is collected, the company can purchase verified carbon credits from reputable offset providers such as Gold Standard, Verra, or Climate Action Reserve.

However, offsetting should not be a substitute for reducing emissions. The most responsible approach is to first reduce travel where possible, opt for low-carbon alternatives, and use carbon offsets to address remaining, unavoidable emissions.

When done transparently and in conjunction with broader sustainability efforts, carbon offsetting becomes a valuable part of a corporate travel strategy, enabling businesses to take climate action while continuing to connect and grow globally.

 

Noteworthy Policies and Guidelines for Sustainable Business Trips

Companies should look for reliable carbon offset programs and use them whenever possible. They can help to encourage sustainable business travel by offsetting the carbon emissions of business travel by funding carbon reduction projects.

When feasible, avoid unnecessary business travel. This can be accomplished by remotely connecting with colleagues and clients via video conferencing or other technology. Technology has also made it possible for employees to travel paperless while on business. Businesses can lessen their environmental effect by encouraging staff to use digital documents and communication rather than hard copies and printed materials.

When traveling, it is critical to select the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation available. This includes putting public transport, walking, and biking ahead of driving and flying. Sustainable transportation methods, such as public transport, carpooling, or renting electric vehicles, should be promoted whenever possible.

Businesses should consider compensating employees who travel in an environmentally responsible manner or implementing green mobility solutions into corporate policies.

Planning ahead of time can help to cut emissions from business trips. It is especially crucial for longer journeys to verify the most effective route, which can assist to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

When organizing business visits, select sustainable accommodations with environmental accreditations. This is especially true for longer stays and conferences that necessitate more energy and resources. This could involve using recycled materials, conserving energy and water, and providing sustainable eating options.

Conducting a travel audit: Conducting a travel audit will help you measure your progress and find areas where you can improve. This entails gathering information on your travel habits, such as the number of trips you take, the forms of transportation you use, and the emissions you generate.