{"id":18037,"date":"2011-04-02T15:47:49","date_gmt":"2011-04-02T14:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.voyages-d-affaires.com\/environnement-les-politiques-voyages-passent-au-vert-20110402.html"},"modified":"2016-02-10T09:56:23","modified_gmt":"2016-02-10T08:56:23","slug":"environment-travel-policies-go-green","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.voyages-d-affaires.com\/en\/environment-travel-policies-go-green","title":{"rendered":"Environment - Travel policies go \"green"},"content":{"rendered":"

Slowly but surely, the notion of sustainable development is taking root in business travel. However, awareness is still higher among large groups than among other companies. This is understandable, given that since 2001, companies listed on the stock exchange have been obliged to publish an annual sustainable development report alongside their financial statements, including details of their consumption and the measures taken to improve their environmental efficiency, as well as their use of renewable energy.<\/p>\n

In 2012, they will have to go even further and take account of CO2 emissions, particularly those linked to employee travel. To prepare for this, private and public companies can start by taking stock of the situation before adopting certain operational measures. The carbon footprint enables companies to assess their greenhouse gas emissions,\" explains Jean-Louis Haie, sustainable development consultant at Factea Durable. Once the emissions have been calculated, it is possible to reduce them by identifying the room for manoeuvre that exists within the constraints of the business.<\/em> Although this 'green' audit is not compulsory for all companies, more and more of them are undergoing this type of exercise, in line with their strategies. Every year we carry out a carbon audit to analyse and quantify the CO2 emissions generated by our business travel,\" explains Catherine Moulin, Director of Health and the Environment at SFR. But instead of continuing to offset these emissions with a specialist organisation, from now on we'll be giving priority to supporting our employees in their sustainable mobility.\"<\/em> It should be noted that in 2009, SFR offset all its air flights - excluding those of its overseas subsidiary, Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 R\u00e9unionnaise du Radiot\u00e9l\u00e9phone - with the Good Planet Foundation's Action Carbone programme, i.e. 2,279 tonnes of CO2 at a cost of around \u20ac45,000.<\/p>\n

In the United States, consultants specialising in sustainable development consultancy use the play on words: \"green is the dollar's friend\".<\/em>. A responsible travel policy saves money and offers companies levers to reduce their travel budgets. On this side of the Atlantic, in this period of increased competitiveness and optimisation of business travel, companies are not shying away from tightening their rules under the guise of environmentally-friendly behaviour.<\/p>\n

The virtues of eco-travel<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
The first thing to think about when putting these plans in place is the real purpose of the planned trip. Then, if the journey is necessary, the traveller will have to choose between several means of transport depending on the destination. It's a proven fact that trains emit less CO2 than planes. The various calculators on the rail carriers' booking sites prove it. Established in partnership with the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME), the EcoComparateur on the Voyages-sncf.com website calculates carbon dioxide emissions so that travellers can see the impact of their journeys on the environment. Although these are estimates, the calculator reveals that a Paris-Nice journey by plane has a CO2 index of 206, compared with just 10 by train. \"As 95 % of our journeys are made in France, air travel is prohibited, except on the Paris-Toulouse route\", explains Michel Moussa, Director of Employee Services at SFR.<\/p>\n

The fact remains, however, that for distant destinations outside France and neighbouring Europe, the question of whether to travel by train or by plane obviously does not arise. Factea Durable is therefore encouraging companies to optimise their travel: \"If his or her presence is necessary, it is better for the employee to group together several meetings, maximising the subjects to be discussed, and, as far as possible, to find a meeting point that is easily accessible to all the participants\".<\/em><\/p>\n

Potential savings on internal meetings<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
If it's difficult to travel completely \"eco-responsible<\/em> to meet customers or prospects, it is easier to ensure that the environment is respected internally. To communicate with colleagues in another branch or unit, technological means such as telepresence virtually reduce distances. Tandberg, a specialist in this new type of solution, explains: \"Combined with crystal-clear audio and video quality, telepresence makes it possible to interact with life-size participants. Every noise, gesture and facial expression is visible and audible.<\/em> On the other hand, installing this state-of-the-art communications system costs almost 300,000 euros. Very, very often too expensive for the average company. That's why business centres such as R\u00e9gus offer virtual meeting rooms for hire to companies setting up subsidiaries abroad or expanding internationally.<\/p>\n

However, many companies still prefer to use a more affordable technology, traditional videoconferencing. But this still represents a heavy investment, requiring periodic renewal. In the interests of eco-attitude, but also to cut costs, we favour videoconferencing and telepresence for internal meetings,\" continues Michel Moussa. In 2010, these two methods of communication accounted for 9,000 hours and audio conferencing for almost 442,000 hours of connection time. For in-house meetings with branches located in France or abroad, potential users will be reassured if two conditions are met: quality and irreproachability of the equipment and, of course, immediate availability of technical support if needed.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Already the holder of ISO 9 001 certification, which focuses on quality, Arval, the full service vehicle leasing company, is currently working on ISO 14 001 certification, a standard designed to promote good environmental management and the reduction of impacts on water, air, soil and natural resources. In this context, Arval continues to implement a travel plan for its thirty or so sales offices in France. The company encourages its employees to carpool when travelling to and from work, and encourages its sales staff to organise their rounds wisely. At the same time, car hire companies such as Arval, Europcar, Hertz and Avis generally renew their fleets every three or four years. Depending on their needs, these companies provide their customers with the most environmentally-friendly vehicles and encourage drivers to drive responsibly. Reducing fuel consumption by one litre per 100 kilometres is equivalent to reducing CO2 emissions by 10 %!<\/p>\n

Attentive to the development of electric vehicles, companies are also taking an interest in 'car-sharing', a formula that allows several employees to reserve the use of the same vehicle via the Internet. SFR, for example, is testing five electric Smart cars used by employees to travel between the group's Paris sites: in just three months, more than 3,000 km have been covered, based on journeys of a dozen kilometres or so.<\/p>\n

\"SNCF<\/p>\n

Demonstrating the environmental virtues of rail transport in the face of competition from planes and cars: the SNCF is preaching the good word with its EcoComparateur, a website developed in partnership with ADEME.<\/em><\/p>\n

Optimise car journeys<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
Inevitably, the \"greening<\/em> Travel policies require the various links in the chain to play their part. As a result, private and public companies are now giving a significant place to environmental criteria in their calls for tender to select a travel agency network and\/or a supplier. In the overall rating of a travel agency network, the green criterion is present alongside the price factor, the quality of service and the value of the technical equipment,\" continues Jean-Louis Haie. On average, it accounts for 10 % in the decision of a group's travel manager or purchasing director, although it can represent between 5 % and 15 % of that choice\".<\/em>. Car hire companies, airlines with fuel-efficient fleets and hoteliers are all riding the green wave.<\/p>\n

In the hotel sector, a brand like Ibis, part of the Accor group, has embarked on a process of environmental certification, with 326 hotels in 16 countries now meeting the many requirements of the ISO 14 001 standard. And in France, many establishments, including Best Westerns, have been awarded the European Ecolabel for low energy and water consumption, reduced waste production and the use of renewable energy sources. In practical terms, this means using rainwater for flushing toilets, energy-saving light bulbs or solar panels. What's more, when hoteliers give their guests the choice of keeping or changing their bathroom linen, they are making them face up to their green responsibilities.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Car-pooling<\/p>\n

\u00a0Car-pooling, car-sharing, electric vehicles, or fuel-efficient fleets from long-term leasing companies: there are many ways to reduce the environmental impact of car journeys made by company employees.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meeting spaces are not to be outdone either. Last year, the Palais des Festivals et des Congr\u00e8s in Cannes was the first in Europe to be awarded triple certification for quality (ISO 9 001), health and safety (OHSAS 18 001) and the environment (ISO 14 001). Is there a causal link here? But Cannes recently hosted the first international trade fair on green growth (GETIS), and this initiative has also had the merit of attracting professional events and\/or foreign clients, particularly from Scandinavia.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"The<\/p>\n

The Ibis hotel in Chamb\u00e9ry, equipped with solar panels, is part of the brand's ISO 14001 certification policy.<\/em><\/div>\n
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The recalcitrant still need to be convinced. If some users are still reluctant to change their travel policy, they still need to be made aware of the issue and informed so that they can change their behaviour. At this stage, a simulator in the online booking tool is invaluable in enabling them to compare carbon emissions by mode of transport. To make them aware of the quantities of CO2 generated by their journeys, SFR has an eco-calculator on its intranet and on its KDS online booking tool, which complies with the ADEME protocol. As Jean-Louis Haie concludes, \"instead of making 'bad pupils' feel guilty, it might be more sensible to think up a 'responsible traveller' competition, for example, to reward the most virtuous services, entities or departments of a private or public company! An effective way of motivating employees to adopt these new practices.<\/p>\n