Earth Day: How to travel for business in the spirit of ESG?
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Earth Day is a great time to stop momentarily and think about how important the planet and the natural environment are to us. Face-to-face business meetings and business trips that are inseparable from them are important areas in which implementing an ESG strategy becomes essential. In an era of growing pro-ecological awareness, more and more companies are deciding on ESG activities, i.e., an approach that takes into account environmental, social, and corporate governance aspects. Implementing ESG principles is not just a fad, but a new business standard that can be treated as a “compass”, where corporate social responsibility and the implementation of sustainable development goals determine the right direction for managing business trips.
In this guide, you will read about:
- What is ESG, and how does it relate to business travel?
- ESG report — activities in organizing delegations
- How to implement an ESG policy in business travel?
- Optimization of means of transport
- Implementing sustainable travel
- Carbon offsetting
- How does WorkTrips help you implement sustainable business travel?
- ESG in business travel — summary
What is ESG, and how does it relate to business travel?
ESG (E – Environmental, S – Social, and G – Corporate Governance) is a management concept that takes into account the impact of companies’ activities on environmental, social, and corporate aspects in conducting business activities. Steps towards sustainable development allow companies to identify a wide range of market opportunities, define ESG criteria, and protect the environment through sustainable products and services. The indicators of the development of a company taking care of ESG goals are not only the reduction of CO₂ emissions, but also the transparency and simplicity of processes that positively affect the image and strengthen the competitiveness of a given organization.
Sustainability leaders in business travel increasingly support socially responsible initiatives. In the context of business travel, ESG means making conscious decisions about transport, accommodation, and organization of delegations in such a way as to minimize negative impact on the environment.
ESG report — activities in organizing delegations
Modern companies face a major challenge – how to travel wisely without giving up global business opportunities? Business travel, like an inseparable element of the corporate puzzle, generates a significant carbon footprint. That is why proper standards of sustainable development are becoming very important, which allow minimizing the negative impact on the environment, while at the same time taking care to optimize the costs of business travel.
Companies that actively implement ESG issues and care about the principles of sustainable development gain a competitive advantage. Business partners, customers, and investors increasingly choose organizations that think not only about profits, but also about the future of the planet. Reducing CO₂ emissions, ESG reporting by regulations, and responsible resource management are becoming the foundation of modern business. ESG reporting tools are also playing an increasingly important role, helping organizations analyze and present the impact on individual areas of the company’s operations.
How to implement an ESG policy in business travel?
To effectively implement ESG principles in the organization of delegations, it is worth considering the following aspects:
Optimization of means of transport
Choosing the right means of transport for your business trip can make a big difference. Here are the most important sustainable actions in this regard:
- choosing trains instead of planes on routes up to 700 km – like changing a sprint to a marathon, a bit slower but more efficient,
- preferring direct flights to reduce CO₂ emissions – the fewer transfers, the shorter the route to the destination,
- using public transport for your business travel destination.
Implementing sustainable travel
Implementing sustainability principles in the context of business travel is a real strategy that brings tangible benefits. To achieve this, it is necessary to define specific principles and introduce intelligent solutions that facilitate ESG data reporting:
- developing clear guidelines for choosing means of transport – so that each business trip has its own “map” illustrating the scope of sustainable development,
- criteria for selecting hotels that take the environment into account and undertake sustainable activities,
- monitoring and requiring ESG reporting – what is measurable is always possible to improve.
Carbon offsetting
Not all carbon emissions can be avoided, but they can be offset. It’s like planting a tree where there wasn’t one before. Sustainability standards are the company’s ESG-related activities, such as reforestation and renewable energy investments.
How does WorkTrips help you implement sustainable business travel?
For WorkTrips specialists, corporate social responsibility and sustainable development strategy are very important. Our experts support the company’s activities focused on ESG goals. WorkTrips can help your company to:
- comparing the carbon footprint of different forms of transport at the travel planning stage,
- route and travel cost optimization, which can support decisions regarding ESG activities,
- preparing ESG reports.
Moreover, WorkTrips cooperates with the myClimate Foundation, enabling the offsetting of carbon dioxide emissions through specific ecological projects, which can also be an element positively influencing the implementation of the ESG strategy.
ESG in business travel — summary
Business travel is a “bridge” connecting people and businesses around the world. Building these bridges in the spirit of ESG is corporate social responsibility, bringing tangible benefits, including: reducing CO₂ emissions, financial savings, and a positive image of a modern organization. ESG information reporting can also be an important factor in assessing your company as a reliable business partner.
Want to learn how to combine your ESG strategy (E – Environment, S – Social Responsibility, G – Corporate Governance) with business travel management in your company? How to consciously reduce the negative impact of your business on the natural environment and introduce sustainable development standards? Schedule a consultation and see how you can optimize business travel while achieving ESG goals! Act like a sustainable development leader!