Smart and sustainable business travel: practical tips for lower impact.

Travel has an impact on the environment, but with smart choices you can reduce it significantly. Whether you travel by train, car or plane-there are plenty of ways to travel more sustainably without sacrificing convenience and efficiency. In this blog, we share practical tips to reduce your carbon footprint and travel more consciously on business.

What can I do as a business traveler?

Choose sustainable transportation options

• Avoid unnecessary flights: For short distances, trains or buses are often more efficient and less environmentally damaging. Do you have to fly anyway? Then choose a direct flight to reduce emissions.
• Use of public transportation: Trains, subways and buses are more sustainable than cabs or rental cars and reduce emissions per person.
• Carpool or use shared transportation: Choose carpooling or an electric shared car if you do need a car. The (electric) bicycle is also a smart and environmentally friendly choice for short trips.
• Rent an electric car: Need a rental car? Then choose an electric or hybrid model to reduce emissions
  
  

Choose sustainable accommodation

• Choose eco-friendly hotels: Look for accommodations with labels such as Green Key or EarthCheck, which are committed to energy conservation and waste reduction.
• Limit your energy consumption: Use towels several times and turn off lights and air conditioning when you leave the room.

Reduce waste during your trip

• Bring a reusable water bottle: Avoid disposable plastic and fill your bottle at water points.
• Use reusable products: Consider a reusable bag, cutlery and straws to avoid disposable plastic.
• Separating waste: Is there no recycling in your accommodation? Collect your trash and find a place where you can dispose of it responsibly.

Sustainable food and drink

• Choose local and seasonal: This reduces transportation-related emissions and supports the local economy.
• Eat plant-based foods more often: Meat production has a high ecological impact, so occasional vegetarian or vegan meals already help.
• Prevent food waste: Order what you can finish or save leftovers for later.
  
  

Compensate your carbon emissions

Many airlines and travel companies offer options to offset your emissions through environmental projects, such as forest planting or renewable energy. While this is not a substitute for more sustainable travel, it is a valuable addition.

Want to know how Uniglobe Alliance Travel offsets CO2 emissions? Read it here! 

Plan smarter and reduce your impact

• Stay in one place longer: By traveling less often and staying longer at a destination, you reduce your ecological impact as well as save time and money.
• Avoid peak periods: Off-season travel lowers the burden on nature and infrastructure.

Share your knowledge and inspire others

Tell colleagues and business partners about more sustainable travel and show what choices you make. Awareness is the first step to change!

With these modifications, you can make your business travel more sustainable without sacrificing efficiency or comfort. Which tip will you apply first?

Femke van de Sande & Chantal de Graaff

Business Travel Consultant