Air travel underpins the
business travel industry. Each trip – whether it’s a transatlantic flight for a
week-long conference or a day spent flying back and forth from London to
Glasgow – generates carbon emissions. Every trip can therefore swiftly increase
your company’s carbon footprint. That London to Glasgow return trip for
example, generates an estimated 75kg of carbon dioxide per traveller.
Whilst aviation isn’t the
biggest culprit when it comes to carbon emissions, with carbon dioxide emitted
from planes representing 2% of all global man-made carbon emissions (livestock
accounts for 14.5-18%, electricity and heat for 31%), that’s no excuse to be
complacent. If air travel continues to grow as predicted, it could contribute
to a considerably higher proportion by 2050.
The greenest thing to do
would be not to fly at all, but this isn’t always possible – especially when it
comes to business. We know that often contracts need to be signed in person,
clients need to be met face-to-face and sometimes, the only way to familiarise
yourself with a new market is to explore the area yourself.
However, there are things
you can do to lessen your impact on the planet and that of your company. Here
are a few tips to consider the next time you board a plane – whether for
business or pleasure:
Travel
light - the more weight
a plane has, the more fuel it has to use. Every kilogram saved means 80 metric
tonnes less CO² pumped out by that plane each year. Depending on the length of
your trip, maybe you could manage with carry-on baggage? If you need to check a
bag, pack as light as possible.
Choose
a ‘greener’ airline - no
airline offers completely zero-carbon flights at present, but when looking at
flight options, check out airlines’ green credentials. Some operate more
fuel-efficient planes than others. For example, British Airways has 18 new
aircraft, which are up to 20% more efficient; Cathay Pacific is aiming for 50%
reduction in net CO2 emissions by 2050.
Fly
direct - since planes
burn the most fuel during take-off, limiting the number of flights you take by
choosing direct routes is an easy way to reduce emission levels.
Use
a local airport - getting
to the airport adds emissions to the trip. Reduce the level of emissions by
flying from the closest airport and use public transport or electric cabs/hire
cars for transfers if possible.
Zero-waste – reduce the amount of waste you produce
on a trip. Instead of single-use items like water bottles, coffee cups and
cutlery, could you use reusable alternatives? Avoid printing travel documents
by storing them on your mobile.
Offsetting
Emissions - one of the
biggest ways a business can decrease the size of its carbon footprint is by
“offsetting” its emissions. The money is then invested in environmental
projects, such as planting trees, sponsoring carbon neutral projects or
installing solar panels.
Getting
the facts – work with
your TMC to ensure booking travel is as cost-effective and as environmentally
friendly as possible. Using calculations based on route, carrier, travel type
and travel class from our sustainability partner Susterra, Corporate
Traveller’s clients receive an in-depth analysis on the CO² emissions generated
from their travel programme, with highlighted areas where journeys with a
smaller footprint could be made.
This blogpost was written
by Andy Hegley, UK General Manager, Corporate Traveller
(www.corptraveller.co.uk). Corporate Traveller has produced a White Paper
‘Reducing Carbon Emissions when Flying for Business.’ Register for FREE and
visit them on stand B30 www.businesstravelshow.com
No comments:
Post a Comment