Sustainable Biz Magazine - Magazine - Page 30
Only 16% of business travellers prioritise
sustainability in trip planning, despite
desire for more eco-friendly travel options
R
ecent research on sustainability
amongst British business travellers
showed that while the environment
is front of mind for many companies and
their travelling employees, the majority are
yet to turn good intentions into concrete
actions, and are placing the onus on the
other to implement sustainable travel.
The Censuswide survey of 1,003
employees and 254 employers asked where
sustainability fits within the business travel
agenda, as trip volumes approach prepandemic levels.
According to the report, 38% of businesses
reported increased investment in
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sustainability, with 71% reporting having a
formal sustainability policy or guidelines in
place. However, only 37% of these businesses
actively enforce these policies during
bookings and travel expense approvals.
Only one in six employees cited
sustainability as their key priority when
making travel plans, significantly below
both cost and traveller convenience. Whilst
environmental concerns remain a low
priority during the booking process for
business travellers, 71% said their employer
should do more to enable sustainable travel.
Meanwhile, the majority (76%) of employees
also agreed they would take a more
S USTAI N AB L E B I Z MAGAZINE
NOVEMBER 2023
sustainable mode of transport if financial
incentives or sustainability programmes
were available.
Since Emburse’s 2021 survey looking at
sustainable business travel post-pandemic,
employee demand for sustainable travel
incentives has risen by 19%. The 2021 data
also found only one in nine (11%) employers
had listed sustainability as an important
factor for business travel arrangements.
Two years on, cost is ultimately the most
important factor when it comes to booking
business travel for both businesses and
employees.