www.buyingbusinesstravel.com
Sustainable travel
to provide consultancy services on how corporates can meet their own targets via collaboration,” she says.
ECO-INVESTMENT Moring and CWT are not alone. A recent GBTA case study, written by Project Icarus’s head of sustainability, Bernard Harrop, pays tribute to the efforts of another Gold Medal recipient, Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC): “PWC has invested much time and effort in developing its programme, and the rewards are very clear to see in terms of environmental impact (CO2 reductions), improved employee satisfaction and substantial cost avoidance.” Mark Avery, PWC’s head of business services, adds: “The travel team at PWC have worked
priority. Business travel is a necessary part of the way we work – our ability to serve our clients largely depends on being able to visit their locations. Nevertheless, we continue to challenge ourselves on the need, frequency and mode of travel.”
Last year alone, PWC trained more than 2,000 employees in the use of online meetings technology, and invested more than £460,000 in its online and videoconferencing infrastructure. Harrop calculates that in the three years between 2009 and 2012, PWC’s sustainability drive has resulted in cost avoidance to the tune of €7 million. The PWC programme is incredibly detailed, right down to asking travellers to “avoid individually-packaged condiments”. It may seem pedantic
If legislative and peer pressure does force more corporates to toe the eco-friendly line, is there an advisory role for TMCs?
hard to support the firm’s global sustainability initiatives. We are particularly proud of the communication programme and the commitment of our travellers. We aim to develop new initiatives as we continue to improve our drive for greater sustainability.” Widely recognised as a sustainable travel leader, PWC continues to fine-tune its best-in-class programme. “Business travel remains our single largest generator of carbon emissions, representing 53 per cent of our carbon footprint in 2013,” a spokesman for the company says. “Air travel accounts for most of this, making it a top sustainability
but, as one supermarket chain insists on telling us, every little helps.
PAPER WASTE
Which brings us back to the trees. According to the
howstuffworks.com website, most paper is made from pine trees, which are felled when they are about 30 years old and have reached a height of around 60 feet. Such a tree yields something over 80,000 cubic inches of wood, weighing about 1,600lbs. The resulting pulp yields about 800lbs of paper – the approximate equivalent of 200 reams of A4.
So never mind the individual salt and pepper sachets – just stay away from the
photocopier...and don’t forget to subscribe to BBT’s digital edition!
THE UNIVERSITY OF CUMBRIA reckons it cut its CO2 emissions by 27 per cent and gained an extra 5,000 productive man-hours per year – as well as reducing its annual car travel spend by £242,000 – as a result of a sustainability deal with Virgin Trains. Speaking at Co-operative Travel Management’s recent client conference, Virgin Trains’ national sales manager Anna Doran said the deal has also enabled the university to dispense with its fleet of 49 pool cars. Staff travelling between campuses, particularly Carlisle and Lancaster, now travel by train and are upgraded to first class free of charge, and benefit from complimentary wifi, refreshments and a larger work area. “First class capacity is limited between London and Preston,” Doran told the conference, “but there is more seating available after that – which is just where the university needed it.” Ian Rodham, the University of Cumbria’s
travel planner, says: “The university has been working hard to reduce the impact of our travel. Our partnership with Virgin Trains has been great, helping us to make a real difference.” Peter Bowes, Virgin Trains’ safety and environment director, says: “This innovative and collaborative partnership demonstrates that sustainability is a core value for both organisations. “The resulting lower carbon emissions
from the car pool achieve a sustainability win, and there is also a financial win for both organisations, with greater productivity for the university and its staff, and increased passengers and revenue for Virgin Trains. “Sustainable business travel is crucial to
lower negative environmental impact and ensures all parties benefit, now and in the long term.” Virgin Trains claims it is achieving its
target of reducing its CO2 emissions by 2.5 per cent per year across its Voyager and Pendolino fleet and managed stations.
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