How to cut carbon emissions from business travel
Transport is a significant - and growing - cause of carbon emissions. Some businesses, such as those in the transport sector, will be able to cut carbon emissions to a larger extent than others, but there are actions that all businesses can take.
The first step in cutting your CO2 emissions is to evaluate the impact of your business travel on the environment. This includes:
- travel to and from meetings and other out-of-office appointments - whether this is by car, plane or train
- journeys that employees make to and from work
- the way your business makes and receives deliveries.
The Carbon Trust can help you work out the carbon footprint of your business, including the impact of business travel, and give free advice on cutting carbon emissions.
Carbon Trust: Carbon footprint calculator
Once you have examined your business travel, the next step is to look at ways to reduce or minimise the impact of these journeys. You might consider encouraging your employees to:
- book several appointments in the same area on the same day
- work from home
- use methods of transport with less environmental impact, such as walking, cycling and trains
- use low-emission vehicles and alternatively powered vehicles
- drive vehicles more efficiently.
If you transport goods as part of your business, you should ensure that you do this in the most efficient way.
Watch our short video: How to manage transport impacts from your business
For further information on reducing the environmental impact of your business travel, see our guidelines:
In Northern Ireland, you can find sustainable transport guidance in: Travel Wise Northern Ireland: Sustainable transport
The Energy Saving Trust has best practice guidance for sustainable transport:
- Energy Saving Trust: Business Transport Guidance for businesses to reduce transport costs and lower emissions from transport, helping to meet carbon reduction commitments. It includes information on grants and loans in Scotland.
- Energy Saving Trust: Low Carbon Travel Guidance on sustainable travel, for individuals.
Further information
- Carbon Trust: Advising towards Net Zero
- Carbon Trust: The journey to Net Zero for SMEs guide
- Scottish Enterprise: Net Zero Accelerator Tool for businesses Tool making recommendations across five key areas on your route towards net zero.
- EAUC: Standardised Carbon Emissions Framework
- Business Energy Scotland: Green Champions Training Free, CPD certified, online training for SMEs, consisting of a series of modules that will help develop the skills and knowledge needed to put in place effective resource efficiency measures in your business. They deal with energy, waste and water efficiency. You can work through them at your own speed, choosing the modules that are relevant to your business.