The road to sustainable business travel

Business travel is often necessary, and the modern business traveler seeks a balance between time management, comfort and sustainability. With the growing focus on environmental friendliness, sustainable business travel is now a must. In this blog, we share tips and inspiration for making your next business trip as sustainable as possible.

New business travel trends

In a world where we are always online and everything is customized, business travelers expect more flexibility. Some seek a better work-life balance, while others want to add relaxation to their trip. Important factors for the business traveler are:

• Optimal time management, with or without free time
• Comfort
• Cost Management
• Use of savings programs

In addition to these aspects, sustainability is now an indispensable factor.

Sustainable business travel: how do you do it?

Sustainability starts with the offer. When requesting travel, we not only consider the fastest option, but also the most responsible. Here are some ways to travel greener:

• Alternative means of transportation: Choose the train instead of the plane, especially for shorter distances.
• carbon offsetting: Offset emissions from air travel by investing in carbon reduction projects.
• Sustainable fuel: Sustainable Airline Fuel (SAF) is increasingly being implemented in the airline industry.
• Electric driving: Choose electric cars or travel together by public transportation to reduce emissions.

Sustainable accommodations

Choosing sustainable hotels, such as Green Key hotels, contributes to environmentally friendly travel. These hotels pay attention to energy and water consumption, use eco-friendly cleaning products, recycle, and offer organic food and sustainability-labeled products.

In addition to choosing a sustainable accommodation, you can also make sure your accommodation is as sustainable as possible yourself. Turn off all lights, TVs and air conditioning when you leave the room and use natural light during the day to reduce energy consumption. Set the thermostat energy-efficiently and take short showers to save water. Ask the hotel not to change towels and bedding daily.

Minimize waste and go paperless

Sustainability during your business trip starts with conscious choices. Bring a reusable water bottle and coffee mug to avoid disposable containers. Many airports and hotels have water taps for refills, and cafes often offer discounts if you use your own cup. Separate waste and use biodegradable products whenever possible.

Paperless travel is easy by using e-tickets, digital boarding passes and digital versions of hotel reservations and car rental information. During appointments, take notes in apps such as Evernote or Google Keep and use a digital calendar to keep track of your schedule.

Responsible car rental

Car rental companies promote sustainable rentals. To minimize your CO2 impact, choose a small or electric car. Young rental cars emit less CO2, making this another good option to travel as green as possible. Many rental companies also offer carbon offsets, which means you contribute to climate projects and support local people. Learn more about electric car rentals.

Planning efficiently

An effective way to make your business travel sustainable is to plan efficiently and combine appointments. This means trying to schedule multiple meetings, meetings or events on the same day or in the same travel period. This way, you not only reduce your carbon footprint, but also make more efficient use of your time and resources. This contributes to sustainability as well as increased productivity and lower costs.

Innovative initiatives

KLM participated with partners in a trial at Schiphol Airport to test sustainable cab methods, including the use of Taxibot. This electric vehicle tows aircraft without the aircraft's engines running. This method can yield fuel savings of 50-65%, with significant environmental benefits. Schiphol aims to make sustainable taxiing standard by 2030. Read more about making Schiphol more sustainable.

Sustainable business travel means environmentally friendly business travel without compromising on comfort. It inspires and motivates to work together for a greener world. Business travelers can contribute to a more sustainable future through conscious choices and new initiatives. Together, we make a positive impact on the environment and enjoy our travels.

Are you looking for ways to make your business travel more sustainable? Let us know to your contact or in your booking!

Travel Well!