I have worked for a few environmental organizations, and all of them have required travel of some sort which, in turn, included flying. Even though I welcome the chance to travel, I have to admit the tiniest feeling of guilt every time I step on a plane. I think to myself, would I get just as much out of the meeting over the phone or online? Usually, the answer is no. The quality of interaction is exponentially less over the phone or online than a one-on-one meeting. I'm not about to fly all over to spread the gospel of green living, but sometimes that one-on-one contact is well worth the trip.
Something companies can keep in mind is lodging. So many locations offer eco-hotels and zero-waste accommodations. Green hotels are great comforts to those of us who think "Okay, I just emitted over 200 kg of CO2 on this flight and now I have to stay in a hotel with a leaky faucet, no insulation, and an air conditioner from the 70's. How else can I expand my footprint today?" Also, it wouldn't kill execs to encourage riding public transportation once they arrive rather than order a limo or taxi service.
The thing I have to keep in mind when I travel for business is to try to keep my footprint as small as possible when I arrive. I love taking the bus and train, sleeping in green hotels, and trying locally-grown cuisine (including microbrews!). It's a hazy area with a lot of back-and-forth on ethics, but the business of business travel is something that needs to be explored by businessmen and hospitality services alike.
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I have worked for a few environmental organizations, and all of them have required travel of some sort which, in turn, included flying. Even though I welcome the chance to travel, I have to admit the tiniest feeling of guilt every time I step on a plane. I think to myself, would I get just as much out of the meeting over the phone or online? Usually, the answer is no. The quality of interaction is exponentially less over the phone or online than a one-on-one meeting. I'm not about to fly all over to spread the gospel of green living, but sometimes that one-on-one contact is well worth the trip.
Something companies can keep in mind is lodging. So many locations offer eco-hotels and zero-waste accommodations. Green hotels are great comforts to those of us who think "Okay, I just emitted over 200 kg of CO2 on this flight and now I have to stay in a hotel with a leaky faucet, no insulation, and an air conditioner from the 70's. How else can I expand my footprint today?" Also, it wouldn't kill execs to encourage riding public transportation once they arrive rather than order a limo or taxi service.
The thing I have to keep in mind when I travel for business is to try to keep my footprint as small as possible when I arrive. I love taking the bus and train, sleeping in green hotels, and trying locally-grown cuisine (including microbrews!). It's a hazy area with a lot of back-and-forth on ethics, but the business of business travel is something that needs to be explored by businessmen and hospitality services alike.