Searching for a greener way to travel
One very obvious way that marketing departments can cut carbon emissions is by casting their eyes over the business travel undertaken by staff.
But before thinking about the different modes of transport, the first consideration should be whether the current amount of travel is absolutely necessary.
There are a growing number of alternatives to face-to-face activity such as 'webinars' – telephone plus a Powerpoint presentation - and video conferencing, which are increasingly being used by organisations such as the Carbon Trust.
This sort of technology is having a notable effect. Cisco, which owns the Telepresence video-conferencing system, estimates that use of the Telepresence has reduced carbon emissions from business travel by 186,786 metric tons.
But if travelling is unavoidable, corporate travel agents can also provide a way to monitor emissions. Expedia, for example, offers a corporate service, which enables businesses to calculate the amount of carbon dioxide employees’ business travel creates and buy the corresponding amount of carbon offsets to balance it.
And although certain types of high-powered executives might squirm at the prospect, public transport, such as local buses and trains, are always an option, especially in big cities.
We asked experts about the environmental impact of the travelling by land and air, and gauged what they had to say about the green records of different transport options.
Aviation
Aviation contributes around 2% of global CO2 emissions, which is expected to grow to 3% by 2050, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Flying Matters, the lobby group for the aviation industry, says the UK’s aircraft manufacturers spend £2.5bn on research and development every year – the vast majority of which is geared to mitigating and reducing environmental impact.
A spokesman for the organisation adds that new aircraft, such as the Airbus A380, burn less than three litres of fuel to carry one passenger over 100km, making them more fuel efficient than cars over the same distance.
Trains
Train companies have gone to great lengths to improve their green performances. The Association of Train Operating Companies, the body representing Britain's train companies, is lobbying for the electrification of up to 400 miles of railways, a move which is says would cut carbon emissions by around 75,000 tonnes a year, a 30% reduction in emissions on the identified routes.
Eurostar, meanwhile, has put the environment at the heart of its business strategy, winning plaudits from no less than Tony Juniper, executive director of Friends of the Earth and Marks & Spencer chief executive Stuart Rose. It claims that its journeys to Paris and Brussels emit a tenth of the CO2 of flying. In April 2007 it launched an initiative called Tread Lightly where it committed to cut CO2 by 25% per traveller by 2012 - and has since raised that target to 35%.
Cars
The motor industry has cut the average fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of the 2m cars bought each year, lowered emissions and waste from the manufacturing process and established a network of authorised centres to recycle end of life vehicles, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
As a result of these actions, in 2008 there were more vehicles on the road, driving further than they did in 2007 yet CO2 emissions from road transport fell.
Automotive companies are beginning to embrace the electric car revolution. Renault, for example, recently unveiled its ‘Zero Emission’ sub-brand, which comprises four electric cars, due for roll out in 2011.
If using taxis is absolutely essential, investigate carbon-conscious options. Green taxi companies; Greentomatocars and The Green Taxi Service are some of the many firms now offering lower emission alternatives.
