10+ Ways to Stay Climate-Conscious When Traveling for Business
Every year, hundreds of millions of people travel for work, so there’s a strong chance that you are—or one day may be—one of them. Unfortunately, business travel has the reputation for being not-so sustainable… But that doesn’t mean we can’t take steps to reduce our impact. When we plan ahead and make earth-conscious decisions, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint when we travel.
But how?
We’re walking you through the ins and outs of sustainable business travel so wherever your job takes you, you are more than prepared.
Calculate Your Carbon Footprint in Advance
Consider where you’re going—should you be traveling by car, bus, train, or plane? It probably won’t surprise you that planes are considered the worst way to travel when it comes to sustainability; however, in rare cases, they may be more sustainable for a single traveler. That’s why it’s important to do the math.
If you choose to drive, you will also want to consider the route you take. Fuel efficiency can be affected by things like frequent inclines as well as acceleration and breaking. If possible, choose a route (or use a tool like Google Maps – now equipped with a variety of eco options) that avoids heavy traffic areas and excessive winding. The straighter the path, the more fuel efficient you will be.
Sustainable Travel
You may have heard the term sustainable travel used before, but what is it really, and how does it relate to you on an individual level?
Traveling sustainably means you consider the social, environmental, and economic impacts your actions have on the people and places you’re visiting. On the surface, this may sound impossible to do. But, at its core, it means simply this: be considerate of your surroundings and the potential impact of your actions while you travel. To help you out, we’re further breaking this down into bite-sized, actionable steps you can take.
- Skip out on the paper. Whether it’s a printed boarding pass, paper map, or local brochure—leave it where it is, you don’t need it. It’s all available on your phone! No excess paper required.
- Travel with others. Once you get to your location, how do you plan to get around? Public transportation is a great option to limit your carbon footprint. If you need to rent a car, consider a hybrid or electric vehicle, and always carpool with your coworkers when you can!
- Buy local. This doesn’t just apply to the goods you buy but also the food you eat and the services you support while you’re in town. By spending your money at local businesses, you are helping to directly support the local economy and the people who live in the location you’re visiting.
- Travel by train. Train travel is a great transportation option that is often overlooked, and it’s a particularly great replacement for short-distance flights. Most passenger trains have a variety of seating options and amenities (e.g., wi-fi), so you have the flexibility of sleeping, relaxing, or working as needed.
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Bring your own reusables with you when you travel—a reusable water bottle and some travel utensils don’t take up much space in your luggage, and you can avoid single-use products on your trip. At your hotel, reuse your towels more than once and put the “do not disturb” sign on your door so housekeeping doesn’t clean every day. Most business trips are short, yet you’ll be shocked at the amount of water it can save!
- Sustainable accommodations. If possible, choose a hotel that has an eco-friendly certification. Popular booking sites like Expedia and Booking.com—even Google—have tools to identify sustainable lodging. (And if they are a hit, recommend them to your colleagues!)
If You Do Need to Travel by Plane...
We’re living in 2023, and the truth is sometimes flying is the only (or most practical) option. So, what can you do to help minimize your climate impact as much as possible?
- Fly economy—not business class. Because the seats in business/first class are larger and take up more room, they count for more than one economy seat when dividing out CO2 emissions; this means that your carbon footprint is smaller when you fly economy.
- Choose your plane wisely. When booking your ticket, most airlines show you the type of plane you will be traveling on. If possible (and it’s cost effective), try to choose one that’s new and fully up to date. This means you’ll be getting the best gas mileage available on the market.
- Travel light. This is a great tip to keep in mind whether you’re flying or driving. More weight = more CO2 used. Try to narrow it down to just one bag. (Check out the next section for packing tips!)
- Fly direct. Skip the layovers. Takeoff and landing are what use the most energy during a flight; therefore, they’re the moments that produce the most CO2. Avoid adding more to your itinerary than absolutely necessary.
Pack with Multi-Purpose in Mind
As mentioned above, the more items you pack, the heavier your luggage ways, and the more CO2 is produced as a result. Why? Because the more work something takes (e.g., carrying a heavy load), the more energy is needed. CO2 is created as a byproduct of this energy (fuel) usage. This is true regardless of your method of transportation; plane, train, or automobile.
Whether it’s your clothes or your toiletries, pack with multi-purpose in mind. Choose clothing items that can be mixed, matched, and reused in different ways. Select shoes that are going to be as universal as possible for the location you’re visiting. And what about shampoo, conditioner, and soap? We recommend going with bars—these are much more travel-friendly, create less plastic waste, and you can use them in multiple ways. (For example, conditioner is a great substitution for shaving cream.)
Oh, and don’t forget a reusable tote bag! Whether it’s grocery shopping or lugging around work supplies, these come in way handier than most people give them credit for—AND with the extra benefit of no single-use plastic bag waste! Plus, if you’re traveling by plane, you can absolutely use your tote as your one “personal item.”
And there you have it—a variety of tips you can take with you to stay climate-conscious while traveling for business.
Are there any we missed? Let us know! Reach out on social media (our accounts are listed in the footer below) and share your favorite business travel tips with the entire EarthShare community!
