More than half (58%) of Australian small-to-medium businesses plan to prioritise sustainability in their travel policies with a strong focus on carbon emissions and waste reduction in 2023, according to new research from Corporate Traveller Australia.
The survey of 202 SMEs found 58 per cent will look to reduce carbon emissions or waste for their 2023 business travel.
Larger SMEs are more likely to include decarbonisation and waste reduction in their travel: 37 per cent of medium-sized businesses (51–200 employees) versus 29 per cent of micro businesses.
Corporate Traveller also presented a list of 10 sustainability options that are likely to be available to them when travelling.
Three-quarters (74%) of respondents said they would choose at least one option. More direct flights (38%), electric vehicle car hire options (30%) and airlines with a carbon-emission reduction program (29%) were the top three choices.
Other options included choosing accommodation close to meetings (27%), travelling with airlines that offer carbon offsetting (25%) and staying at hotels with sustainability practices (24%).
Corporate Traveller’s online booking tool Savi can help with SMEs’ sustainable travel plans. It displays the carbon emissions associated with all flight options at the time of booking to identify more sustainable choices.
Global Managing Director Tom Walley said: “It’s encouraging to see that more than half of the SME sector will commit to reducing carbon emissions and waste in their travel programs and three in four will make use of low-carbon, low-waste options.”
“While Australia’s transport and aviation industries collectively account for 17 per cent of the country’s emissions, there are many progressive airlines, hotel groups and hire car companies already making a real impact.
“To increase adoption in the corporate travel market, it’s the travel industry’s responsibility to establish more ambitious goals, continue investing in new technologies and products and partner with sustainable services to help travellers reduce their footprint.”
For more info, head to corporatetraveller.com.au
