As business travel resumes across the globe, sustainability is a priority for many employees. As many as 71% of travelers recently said they believe businesses that do not offer sustainable business alternatives set a bad example for future generations. Yet, surprisingly, only 35% of organizations have a sustainability policy that includes business travel.

A sustainability-focused business travel policy is a powerful tool for any company, with many benefits. Not only does it give employees reassurance that you’re committed to a greener future, but it’s an effective way to strengthen the reputation of your brand.

Building a sustainable travel policy doesn’t have to be a difficult, lengthy process. In fact, incorporating some simple sustainable practices is a good place to start. Below, we share five simple tips to help build a more sustainable travel policy.

Discourage one or two-day trips - instead, encourage extended stay travel

Typically, business trips are booked with convenience and time efficiency in mind, which doesn’t always result in the most sustainable practices. In fact, quite the opposite - fleeting trips in and out of big cities create a hefty carbon footprint as your employees move around.

Where possible, discourage one or two-day business trips; instead, prioritize longer trips with less travel. For example, if you have employees visiting Chicago for a business meeting, take a look at nearby conferences happening or corporate events that may benefit your company. Try to combine events and meetings into one trip, rather than lots of smaller ones.

Alternatively, encourage your employees to make the most of the city they are visiting. 89% of global travelers recently stated they want to add some leisure time to their next business trip. Incorporating bleisure is a great way to extend trips and reduce travel in and out of cities.

Promote the use of public transport

Using public transport is far more sustainable than hiring a personal car, so where possible, encourage your employees to take the train instead of hiring a vehicle. Today, most major cities are well-connected with excellent transport links. Business travelers can easily (and inexpensively) move around without the need for private vehicles, greatly reducing your company’s carbon footprint.

If employees do need to hire a car during their trip, opt for a green car rental company. Driving ‘greener’ cars (such as electric models) helps to reduce gas emissions and reduce your overall carbon footprint. These types of vehicles also use less fuel and are more energy-efficient - much better for company travel budgets.

Choose employee housing over hotels

Many hotels choose guest luxuries over sustainability. While it’s crucial that business travelers feel comfortable in their accommodation, having linens frequently changed and towels replaced daily is far from environmentally friendly. Hotels tend to use far more energy than individual properties, from the use of hallway lights and elevators to air conditioning and single-use coffee filters.

When booking accommodation for business travelers, consider choosing employee housing instead of hotels. Not only does this type of accommodation provide travelers with more privacy during their trip, but it gives them more control over their energy consumption too.

Select ‘green’ accommodation

With the above in mind, it’s important to choose employee housing providers that are committed to doing their bit for the planet. This doesn’t mean staying in eco-houses with live green walls; rather, it’s about working with an accommodation provider which takes those crucial small steps to reduce its carbon footprint.

Simple efforts such as conserving water and recycling waste make all the difference - and it will give business travelers confidence they’re staying somewhere environmentally responsible. If your employees book their own accommodation, remind them of the importance of going green in your travel policy.

At 3Sixty, we’re committed to doing our bit for the planet. We aim to be carbon-neutral by 2030, and our goal is to provide a stay that is environmentally conscious and sustainability-focused. We limit our use of plastics, conserve water where possible, and are continuously looking for ways to improve our housekeeping practices with sustainability in mind.

Don’t print travel documents - encourage the use of e-ticketing

Offices across the globe have long been going paperless, and it’s time to put this into practice outside of the workplace. Switching to digital alternatives is an easy and effective way to reduce environmental impact, but it’s also an excellent way to streamline your corporate travel processes too.

Encourage your employees to use apps while away, rather than printing information. Automated reimbursement apps, for example, are a great way for business travelers to track their expenses while away without having to request receipts and proof of purchase. E-ticketing and travel apps are another great way to move around the city without having to print tickets, maps and travel information.

When building a more sustainable travel policy, the above five points are an excellent place to start. Building a green travel policy takes time and commitment, so start with the small factors and work your way up - your employees will thank you for it.

3Sixty

3Sixty is a state-of-the-art marketplace that reduces the noise in extended-stay travel. Our HomeMatch™ technology leverages machine learning and human expertise to curate quality, cost-effective housing where your employees feel safe, comfortable, and at peace.