Here’s our guide on sustainable business travel. Where to start? There are several things that you can do that can both reduce your carbon footprint ,and improve productivity and staff wellbeing.
Assuming the trips need to be made, the sustainable travel hierarchy puts:
- walking and wheeling at the top
- then cycling
- then public trannsport
- then taxis
- electric vehicles and car sharing
- then diesel or petrol cars and finally
- flying
It’s a useful guide for thinking about how:
- do you and your staff commute?
- do you undertake business travel?
- what are the options you have for travelling
The closer you are to the top of the hierarchy, the more sustainable your trip is.
Sustainable Staff Travel
Supporting your staff to switch from a car, to other more sustainable modes for commuting and business travel, can help to:
- reduce costs
- may result in health benefits – mentally and physically and
- improved productivity.
Can staff take the train, bus or cycle for work trips instead of driving? Train travel can be a productive time for working, and cycling means your staff get out in the fresh air and build some physical activity into their day.
To support staff cycling, consider offering:
- the Cycle to Work scheme to employees
- become a cycle friendly employer
- install secure cycle parking, and
- provide facilities to staff who cycle, for example storage lockers.
Find out how we got on with our sustainable transport diary blog.
Electric Vehicles
If you need to use a vehicle regularly, consider an electric vehicle. You may want to provide an EV charging point at your premises for your own vehicle and that of visitors or suppliers.
You could also consider investing in ebikes for staff business travel, if your staff are making regular trips in areas with safe cycling infrastructure. Ebikes are particularly useful in areas of the country that have hilly terrain or are often windy and wet.
Sustainable Deliveries and logistics
Depending on your business needs, you should be able to develop an eco-friendly delivery strategy. This strategy would not only consider:
- the use of low carbon vehicles, but
- also includes optimised delivery routes
- sustainable delivery slots and
- click and collect.
Using cargo bikes is a great way of:
- moving things around local areas
- helps to reduce traffic congestion
- reduces parking pressures
- reduces carbon.
You may be able to borrow a cargo bike locally, to find out whether it works for you before investing in one or more for your business.
Grants and loans from the public sector for electric cargo bikes are often available to help with your purchase.
Alternatively, some delivery companies have cargo bikes as part of, or all their fleet. Well-known cargo bike companies include Farr Out Deliveries in Edinburgh and pedal me in London.
Incentivising or encouraging customers to use third party or store click and collect, gives customers more flexibility and reduces the number of delivery vehicles in residential areas. Improving the safety and comfort of local residents and reduces delivery costs.
Eco-friendly or green logistics, means reducing the impact of your logistics on the environment. Examples include the use of:
- electric vehicles
- avoiding air freight
- making efficient use of your vehicles by route optimisation
We use our knowledge, experience and ideas to help your company thrive in a wellbeing economy and find joy in a sustainable future. Please get in touch if you would like some support with your sustainable business travel.
For more information please contact Kirsty Lewin, one of our Business Advisors. Her knowledge, experience and ideas can help your company thrive in a wellbeing economy, and find joy in a sustainable future.
