Nowadays, companies are looking for ways to reduce their carbon emissions and minimize their negative impact on the environment. This is due both to environmental concerns and the influence of more sustainable actions to attract customers and investors.
To assist in this process, technology plays a crucial role, allowing organizations to more easily monitor and even control their emissions of polluting gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂). It also facilitates carbon accounting, helping companies track and measure their emissions across various departments and activities.
Below, we'll delve deeper into how technology is helping companies reduce carbon emissions. Check it out!
The Importance of Reducing Carbon Emissions
First of all, it's important to understand why companies are so committed to reducing carbon emissions.
Climate change and environmental pollution affect businesses and, of course, our planet. Therefore, there is pressure from consumers, as well as government regulations, for companies to reconsider their practices and seek greener and more sustainable ways of operating.
Currently, one of the main causes of global warming is carbon emissions, which come mainly from the burning of fossil fuels.
Therefore, reducing pollutant gas emissions—also known as our carbon footprint—is essential to mitigating the negative impacts of climate change.
Furthermore, companies are realizing that sustainability is not only a social responsibility but also a competitive advantage.
Consumers are more likely to support environmentally responsible companies. According to research, 95% of Americans prefer sustainable companies.
Many investors also consider ESG (an acronym for Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) when selecting business partners.
Technology for Carbon Footprint Monitoring
With this in mind, it becomes much easier to understand why carbon emissions must be monitored and controlled by companies that want to remain relevant in the market.
And to put this into practice, technology plays an essential role.
Platforms and software allow companies to collect and analyze data about their operations to calculate their carbon footprint and develop strategies to reduce it—including corporate travel and expense management platforms.
Let's take a closer look.
Corporate Travel and Its Impact on Sustainability
Corporate travel is part of a company's carbon footprint. Therefore, more sustainable travel has been the subject of numerous debates and studies. One of the most recent studies on the topic was conducted by BCD Travel in July 2023.
According to the survey, two-thirds of travel buyers rate the environment and sustainable travel as "very important." However, the challenge lies in putting this "green" approach into practice. The same study showed that while more than half of travelers are willing to take fewer business trips and focus on longer ones, only 30% are willing to pay more for sustainable travel options.
More specifically:
- 39% of travelers said they would be happy to fly economy class to reduce emissions;
- 36% would not mind spending more time getting to a destination if the emissions impact were lower;
- 30% would be willing to pay more for a trip that includes carbon offsetting or a more sustainable ticket.
Regarding motivations for sustainable travel, in addition to caring for the environment, 40% of travelers cited the company's sustainability goals, financial savings, and support for communities as the main reasons for choosing a "greener" trip.
Carbon emissions from flights are part of companies' carbon footprint.
Corporate Travel Platforms for Reducing Carbon Emissions
While it's crucial for corporate travelers to understand the impact of their trips, the research shows that 4 in 10 travelers do not have access to data on carbon emissions from their business trips.
Even though emissions from flights were considered the easiest to track, only 3 in 10 travelers reported access to this data.
To help reduce carbon emissions during business travel, corporate travel platforms can provide real-time data on the emissions of available flights.
Greenly, the all-in-one sustainability platform, for example, provides business travelers with carbon footprint data for each flight during the booking process.
This empowers companies and their employees to make more environmentally responsible travel choices.
Benefits of Integrating Emissions Data
Integrating flight emissions information into travel booking platforms offers several benefits:
- Ease of access – Carbon emissions estimates are shown directly at booking;
- Better control – Reports can indicate:
- Total emissions per month,
- Departments or cost centers with the highest emissions,
- Employee groups responsible for the most CO₂ output.
Additionally, reducing emissions can lead to cost savings. Flights with a lower carbon footprint are often more efficient, which can reduce overall operating costs.
Other Ways to Reduce Carbon Emissions from Corporate Travel
Beyond choosing lower-emission flights, companies can take other steps to reduce their carbon footprint, such as:
- Renting electric or hybrid vehicles;
- Choosing eco-friendly accommodations;
- Using public transport or carpooling;
- Including sustainable activities in corporate event agendas;
- Renting compact, fuel-efficient vehicles;
- Selecting economy class over business class when feasible;
- Combining multiple appointments into one longer stay;
- Sharing rides among employees.
To implement a more sustainable itinerary—such as coordinating shared car rides or flights—the travel management platform again proves valuable. It enables employees to book similar flight times and accommodations within company policy.
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