Think before you travel on business

Is your business trip really necessary? Or is there an equally effective way you can communicate? Lots of business is traditionally done face to face but, in this technological age, need it be? The usual modes of business travel ­ car and plane ­ won't help you reduce your company's carbon footprint.Flying from Glasgow to London, for example, generates six times as much carbon dioxide as going by train. Taking the train also saves you time, as there are no lengthy check-in queues or security checks, and you can work more easily on the train, so travelling time is more productive. And let's not forget that flying business class is one of the most carbon-intensive ways to travel.
Aim to reduce your CO2 emissions from business travel by managing the absolute need to travel and by providing alternative means of communication, such as video conferencing. If you don't have video conferencing facilities in your office, suites can be hired for around £150 an hour. It's the next best thing to face-to-face meetings and the benefits are not just environmental but economic too.

For larger corporations, in particular, installing unlimited video-conferencing facilities can result in major savings in annual travel costs, as well as reduced CO2 emissions.The CO2 emissions produced from travelling to and from work are equally important to address. Organise car-sharing, cycle, walk or use public transport.

The savings made can be up to 0.5kg of CO2 for every mile you don't drive. Employers can help, too, by providing loans for season railcards and gradually reducing spaces for parking.