What Does Sustainable Travel Mean for Businesses?

Whether closing a sale among Tokyo’s neon-lined streets or jetting off to New York for an important client meeting, traveling sustainably is how to balance the need for globetrotting with the importance of environmental responsibility.

But what does sustainable travel mean for road warriors and their companies? In the simplest terms, it means making travel choices that minimize negative environmental impacts and support local communities. From choosing greener transport options to making ethical spending choices, sustainable travel can be a way for companies and their travelers to help protect the planet.

Defining Sustainable Travel

What does sustainable travel mean in general? It goes beyond reducing one’s carbon footprint; it also involves making thoughtful decisions that positively affect the places visited. At its core, sustainable travel focuses on balancing three key pillars: 

• Environmental responsibility: Sustainable travel aims to minimize environmental harm by addressing issues like carbon emissions, waste management, and ecosystem damage. This can be achieved by choosing greener modes of transport, reducing single-use plastics, staying in eco-certified accommodations, and supporting conservation efforts.
• Social influence: Travel connects us to people, cultures, and traditions, but it also carries a responsibility to preserve them. Respecting local communities means mindfully engaging with cultural heritage through learning local customs, avoiding exploitative activities, or supporting community-led initiatives.
• Economic value: The economic side of sustainable travel focuses on spending money on a destination in a way that benefits the people living there. Ethical spending creates jobs, sustains livelihoods, and empowers communities, keeping tourism revenue within local economies rather than funneling it to external corporations.

Keeping these three goals in mind when booking travel contributes to a healthier planet, stronger communities, and more meaningful travel experiences. Sustainable travel doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort or adventure; it means exploring the world in a way that allows future generations to do the same.

The Environmental Influence of Travel (And How to Reduce It)

According to a McKinsey report, the travel industry contributes about 8% of global carbon emissions. That’s a staggering figure, but actionable solutions can help reduce the environmental toll of travel.

Here are three key ways to travel sustainably:

1. Choose Trains Over Planes

Air travel results in a significant carbon footprint. By choosing to use a train, travelers may reduce emissions by about 86%.

In addition to being cleaner, trains are also energy-efficient; they carry more passengers per trip than planes and run on renewable power sources in many countries.

Governments are starting to recognize the potential benefits of greener travel. France, for instance, has introduced laws banning domestic short-haul flights where viable train alternatives exist. Countries like Spain and Germany are considering similar initiatives as well.

2. Offset Carbon Emissions

Reducing the environmental affect of corporate travel is a growing priority for many businesses. Carbon offsetting programs are a practical way to balance emissions by supporting initiatives such as reforestation, clean energy production, or conservation efforts. These programs help mitigate the effects of unavoidable business travel and offer companies a route to align their operations with sustainability goals.

To take meaningful action, consider options that:

• Offset emissions generated by corporate travel.
• Invest in projects like reforestation, wind and solar energy, or carbon capture technology.

3. Eco-Friendly Industry Practices

The travel sector is increasingly adopting innovative solutions to minimize environmental influence:

• Some airlines are testing sustainable aviation fuels, such as biofuel blends, to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions.
• Hotels are phasing out single-use plastic toiletries in favor of refillable dispensers to reduce plastic waste.
• Efforts are underway to eliminate single-use plastics entirely across various parts of the travel and hospitality industry by establishing timelines for removal and implementing sustainable alternatives.

Sustainable Travel: Economic and Social Aspects

Sustainability encompasses more than just carbon emissions; it’s also about creating positive impacts through travel that benefit local communities rather than placing additional strain on them.

Support Local Businesses

Skip the generic coffee chains and dine at locally owned restaurants or markets. Direct spending within communities helps create jobs, sustain families, and support the local economy.

Why it matters: When travelers prioritize local businesses, they direct the economic benefits of tourism to stay within the community, fostering growth, reducing inequality, and preserving cultural authenticity.

Preserve Local Cultures

From centuries-old traditions to artisan crafts, sustainable travelers can support these cultural gems and help them thrive for future generations.

Practice sustainable travel by engaging in experiences that respect and celebrate the community’s heritage and interacting respectfully with the people and animals in the destination. 

The Role of Technology in Sustainable Travel

Innovative technologies are transforming travel and accelerating the path toward greener journeys.

Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)

While electric planes remain a possibility in the distant future, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) offer a promising way to reduce flight emissions by up to 80%, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Many airlines are already testing SAF solutions, taking important steps toward a greener and more sustainable future for air travel.

Eco-Transportation Initiatives

Governments worldwide are prioritizing sustainable transportation options for short-distance travel. Policies promoting rail networks and reducing reliance on short-haul flights are becoming more common and encourage travelers to choose greener travel alternatives.

Small Steps, Big Influence

To travel sustainably, you don’t have to make drastic lifestyle changes. Achieving green goals can be done by making small, consistent steps toward mindful decisions, such as:

• Choosing trains over planes where possible
• Offsetting your carbon emissions for business and leisure trips
• Spending ethically to support local businesses and communities

By making smart travel choices, you can become part of the solution, allowing future generations to continue exploring our planet’s wonders.

Ready to make sustainable travel part of your business? Read Navan’s five-step guide to building a more sustainable T&E program.