Travel Green - Influencing Mindful Travel Behaviour

v1.0 – May 2021

TRAVEL GREEN

INFLUENCING MINDFUL

TRAVEL BEHAVIOUR

www.ctbusinesstravel.co.uk

V9998 / 99162

CONTENTS

2-3

Contents

4-5

The Story So Far

6

Wellness Director Willow

7

Our Trees4Travel Partnership

8-9

Green Travel

10-13

Our Top 20 Tips for Greener Travel

14-15

Consider Your Airline

16-17

What are Airports Doing to Help?

18

Hotels and Sustainability

19

What Are Hotel Chains Doing?

20-21

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

CT Business Travel - Influencing mindful travel behaviour

www.ctbusinesstravel.co.uk | 01892 571189

3

THE STORY SO FAR

Established in 1988, CT Business Travel is a multiaward-winning

and independently owned Travel

Management Company.

Over the past 33 years, we have seen some major

changes and faced many challenges within the

industry, but our ethos to deliver service excellence

and to embrace change has always been at the

forefront of our business. Today, the desire to

travel remains strong and our industry continues

to connect people more than ever before. However,

as the travel industry grows, so do the concerns

surrounding its impact on the environment.

Collectively we all have a responsibility to reverse

the negative impacts travel has had on the

environment and create a more sustainable world

for the future. For the traveller, taking small steps

and considerations in the short term can have

positive long-term benefits in protecting the local

and global environment.

From airline, airport and hotel initiatives to personal

considerations when travelling, we hope this

document will help you to make more informed

travel choices in the future.



5

Willow, Wellness Director

WOOF!

“I am Willow the Wellness Director here at CT Business Travel.

Not only do I look after the wellbeing of my team, but I also consider

how we can help our clients promote a greener way of travel.

Throughout this document you will find information on how my team

can help you. Please follow the tips on how you, as an individual,

can have a positive impact on the environment when travelling”.

6


OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH TREES4TRAVEL

CT Business Travel has partnered with Trees4Travel

to assist our clients who want to commit to the

environment with a simple, impactful and affordable

solution. The new partnership will enable clients

to plant trees as they travel, offsetting their carbon

footprint and enabling them to make more mindful

travel decisions. As well as absorbing CO2, trees

help filter the water we drink, provide jobs to 1.6

billion people worldwide, produce key ingredients in

25% of all medicines and help support the welfare

of local communities. CT Business Travel can help

clients calculate their carbon footprint and integrate

the offsetting programme seamlessly within their

travel policy.


7

WHAT IS ‘GREEN TRAVEL’?

Green Travel is a term used when referring

to responsible travel practices that pay

attention to environmental, social and

economic sustainability. It is also known

in the industry as sustainable travel, ecotourism

or eco-friendly travel.

When making travel decisions and during

travel, individuals should be considering

the following:

Think about your impact on the

environment – both physically and

socially

Do your part to minimise the impact you

make on the environment

Understand the various eco-friendly

choices you can make pre and during

travel

Make eco-conscious choices when the

options available are right for you

8


WHY IS ‘GREEN TRAVEL’ IMPORTANT?

Globally the travel industry is responsible

for 8% of the world’s total CO2 emissions, to

which aviation represents 3% of this figure.

In 1995 there were 527m international

arrivals recorded globally. It is set increase

to 1.8bn by 2030. This has consequently had

a significant impact on the environment and

the CO2 emissions generated and is why

Green Travel is so important.

As a result, the travel industry is taking

measures to minimise their impact as

are individuals. Collectively we have a

responsibility to be more eco-conscious and

friendly when travelling in order to protect the

local and global environment.

For the traveller, taking small steps and

considerations in the short term can have

positive long-term benefits.

This document is a simple guide to help you

make informed choices.


9

HERE ARE OUR 20 TOP TIPS AND CONSIDERATIONS

WHEN BOOKING AND DURING TRAVEL:

Going greener is easier than ever. As a

traveller, there are many ways you can

make small but effective changes when

travelling which will have a positive

impact on the environment and reduce

your carbon footprint.

1

Fly direct with a non-stop flight

Flying non-stop rather than indirectly

means less fuel and emissions. Takeoff

and landing uses more fuel than

being in the air – in fact if your flight

has a stopover, it can increase the

flights total emissions by 35%. It also

saves you valuable time.

2

Rethink flying Business and choose

Economy class

Flying Economy is much more ecofriendly.

Business class bumps your

carbon up three times more than if

flying in Economy class! With more

space per seat, each person accounts

for a larger portion of the plane’s

emissions.

3

Choose an eco-friendly airline

You can minimise your environmental

footprint by choosing an eco-friendly

airline. You can also check the type of

aircraft you will be flying on – newer

models, such as the Boeing 787

Dreamliner and Airbus A350, are more

fuel efficient and produce less CO2.

10


4

5

Choose the closest airport to your

final destination

Some budget airlines often offer

cheaper fares to fly to airports

that are located far from the city

advertised. Think about the travel

distance from the airport to your final

destination – is there a closer option?

This will help reduce unnecessary fuel

use as well as time.

Think about how you will travel to

the airport

It is not just about flying – it is

important to think about how you are

getting to the airport. Public transport

is the most eco-friendly option, so

travel by train, bus or shuttle where

possible.

7

8

Pack light

Pack light and take eco-friendly items

Packing lighter can help to reduce the

emissions of your flights. Also, think about

taking eco-friendly toiletries that don’t

contain microscopic plastics and chemicals,

as this will reduce polluting local water

suppliers.

Bring your own in-cabin items

It is also recommended to bring your own incabin

items such as a refillable coffee cup/

water bottle, earphones and reusable cutlery.

This helps to reduce waste especially singleuse

plastics.

6

No frills and low-cost airlines are a

great choice

Low-cost airlines offer more economy

seating making the best use of

aircraft space. Also due to unbundled

fares, passengers only pay for what

they want e.g. meals or baggage,

resulting in less waste, less weight,

and a greater fuel efficiency.

9

10

Don’t print an e-ticket or boarding pass

Instead of printing your e-ticket or boarding

pass, it is much more eco-friendly to display

it on a mobile device. Most airlines provide

free apps where customers can easily

download their boarding pass.

Invest in a reusable water bottle

In order to reduce single-plastic use, invest

in a reusable water bottle. Many airports

and hotels now offer drinking water stations

where you can refill your bottle. It is also

recommended to take reusable bags with

you too.

11

Take a plastic-free travel kit & decant toiletries

Purchasing a TSA approved reusable wash

bag and travel-sized bottles can help minimise

your single-use plastic. You can decant

your toiletries as you wish instead of buying

overpriced and wasteful travel minis. If you

want to go the extra mile, invest in ecofriendly

items such as a bamboo toothbrush

or eco-friendly shampoo.


11

12

Purchase carbon offset credits

Purchasing credits from a carbon offsetting

company is one way to compensate

for your flying emissions. The money

you pay for offsetting the flight carbon

emissions is used to combat the CO2 in the

atmosphere, mainly through tree planting

and reforestation.

13

Choose vegetarian or vegan in-flight meals

When booking or choosing your in-flight

meal, why not consider a vegetarian or

vegan option. Plant-based diets are proven

to reduce your environmental impact.

14

Lower window shades when flying

Lowering the window shade when in the air

helps to keep the plane cooler. In turn this

means less energy is required to power air

conditioning and results in a reduction of

the total energy required and CO2 emissions

in the atmosphere.

12


15

Ask about a hotel’s eco-friendly initiatives at check-in

Many hotels, both chain and independent, now offer ecofriendly

initiatives for customers to promote greener travel.

Ask during check-in if there is anything you can do to help

– there is usually a reward in return!

16

Reduce electricity use during hotel stay

During your hotel stay, it is important to keep your

electricity use to a minimum. The best way to do this is to

ensure the lights, TV, aircon and any other appliances are

turned off when not using and when leaving the room.

17

Use less water

In order to reduce water waste, take short showers and

turn the tap off when brushing your teeth. Did you know,

turning off the tap when you brush your teeth can save up

to 4 gallons of water per person per day.

18

Don’t ask for linen to be changed

During hotel stays, guests are

encouraged to use the same towels and

bed linen throughout their stay. This

helps hotels reduce their water wastage

and decrease energy use. Some hotels

even offer incentives for keeping the

same linen.

19

Avoid the buffet and eat local

Buffets are incredibly wasteful, it is much

more eco-friendly to order from the à la

carte menu instead. Try to eat locally

sourced food at independent restaurants

as it supports the local economy and are

kinder to the environment. It is important to

consider how far your food has travelled!

20

Take waste and packaging home with you

Landfill and waste management can be

very poor in some countries. You may wish

to take packaging and some waste home

with you so it can be discarded or recycled

effectively.


13

CONSIDER YOUR AIRLINE

Aviation is responsible for 3% of the world’s total CO2 emissions.

In response to the globe becoming more eco-conscious, many

airlines are striving to become carbon neutral, or even carbon

zero. There are a number of initiatives being taken including

biofuel research and testing, single-use plastic free flights, weight

modifications to fleets, carbon offsetting options, electric groundbased

equipment and single engine taxiing.

Removing single use

plastic from all flights

Added winglets

to improve fuel

efficiency

Target to remove

300,000 pounds in

plastic waste per year

One engine taxiing

Biofuel programme

Paperless cockpits

Material recycling

programme

Lightweight seats

14


DID YOU KNOW...

Project to turn waste

to jet fuel

The price difference can

be minimal between an

eco-friendly and non-ecofriendly

airline.

Speak to a member of

the team to find

out more.

Reduction of aircraft

waste

Committed AUD50M

over next ten years to

develop sustainable

aviation fuel in Australia

Greener supply chain

Target to reduce landfill

waste by 75% by the

end of 2021

Plans to create a plant to

turn household waste to

jet fuel

Installation of carbon

fibre seats

Using renewable power

sources for aircraft on the

stand at LHR T5

Goal set to reduce CO2

emissions from 2005 to

2030 by 25%


15

WHAT ARE AIRPORTS DOING TO HELP?

Airports are often seen as having a negative impact on

the environment. Not only are they energy inefficient

with regards to their operations, airports also emit a

large amount of greenhouse gas and create high levels

of noise pollution which disturbs local ecosystems.

Things are changing though. In the past decade,

airports have started to seriously focus on the ways

they can reduce their environmental impact.

NEW YORK JFK

AIRPORT

JFK has a near-zero waste

programme with comprehensive

recycling and composting. They

also use LED lighting which is

mercury free and saves up to 90%

on electricity and emits less

greenhouse gases. They have

also eliminated the use of

Styrofoam.

LONDON HEATHROW

AIRPORT

Heathrow has gone

carbon neutral and is working

towards operating a zerocarbon

airport infrastructure by

mid-2030s. They have already

reduced their operational

emissions by 90%.

MANCHESTER

AIRPORT

Has committed to be

net zero carbon by 2038.

It is also transitioning to a

fleet of ultra low emission

vehicles by 2030.

CHICAGO O’HARE

AIRPORT

Chicago installed the world’s

first airport ‘Aeroponic Garden’ in

the mezzanine level of the O’Hare

Rotunda Building. Ticketed airport

passengers can view the garden

or enjoy a meal sampling what

is grown in the eco-friendly

garden.

SANTIAGO

AIRPORT

This Chilean airport has taken

initiatives to reduce 40% of its

emissions by 2030. Some of the steps

taken include an agreement to provide

the air terminal with energy from 100%

renewable sources. Replacing 9703

fluorescent units with LED lights

saving 70% of lighting energy and

the establishment of a waste

recycling and food waste

reduction plan.

SALVADOR

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

This Brazilian airport has

achieved Airport Carbon

Accreditation Level 2 and

installed a wastewater treatment

plant to reuse 100% of treated

water. It is also installing a

solar power station.

16


Check out what airports are

doing around the world to

become more sustainable

and greener:

LONDON GATWICK

AIRPORT

Gatwick is Europe’s second

busiest carbon neutral airport

which uses 100% renewable

electricity and Gold Standard

carbon credits. They are also the

first airport to send zero waste

to landfill.

AMSTERDAM

SCHIPHOL AIRPORT

The airport has significantly

invested in a bio-kerosene

plant and a study into synthetic

kerosene production. The airport

also aims to produce zero

waste by 2030.

MADRID-BARAJAS

ADOLFO SUAREZ AIRPORT

Madrid has invested a

fleet of gas-powered vehicles.

It has also introduced motion

sensors for escalators and

replaced halogen bulbs with

energy saving bulbs which

has led to reduced CO2

emissions.

SINGAPORE CHANGI

AIRPORT

In 2015, Changi Airport

introduced a food waste

digester system at T3. The

disposal system is designed to

convert food waste into liquid

which speeds up the natural

decomposition process. As a

result, the airport has reduced

its environmental footprint.

SHANGHAI

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

Both international

airports in Shanghai have

been committed to creating

eco-friendly garden style

airports turning the two

facilities into more natural

parts of the city.

JOHANNESBURG O.R.

TAMBO AIRPORT

Alongside other green

initiatives, JNB is focusing

on water waste by using

indigenous vegetation in

landscaping and borehole

water for landscaping. It has

also installed low flow

plumbing fixtures in

buildings.

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT

In order to promote renewable

energy sources, DXB has installed

15,000 solar panels on its premises

which will reduce its carbon emissions

and drastically reduce electricity

use. They are also installing energy

efficient LED lightbulbs and

optimising cooling systems.

SYDNEY AIRPORT

Along with other

initiatives, SYD has

implemented a number of

measures to reduce groundbased

noise. All aerobridges

are fitted with fixed electrical

Ground Power Units and

gates in T1 are fitted with

Pre-Conditioned Air.


17

HOTELS AND SUSTAINABILITY

Many hotels ranging from budget-friendly to luxurious and chain to independent,

are taking steps to introduce green and sustainable initiatives in order to reduce

their environmental footprint.

When booking travel, it is important to consider your accommodation. We would

recommend choosing a hotel with eco-friendly policies and initiatives in place so

you can sleep easy. Some of the initiatives taken by hotels include:

Linen Use:

Customers are encouraged not to request towel and bedding changes during

short-medium stays with some hotels even offering a reward for this.

Energy Conservation:

More hotels are looking at ways to implement renewable energy sources

including solar panels for hot water and motion sensor lighting as well as

using class A energy efficient appliances.

Bathroom Amenities:

Disposable product bottles are being removed from bathrooms and replaced

instead with refillable dispensers to minimise waste and single-plastic use.

Room Keys:

Modern key cards are made from PVC-plastic, many hotels are switching to

sustainable options including cards made from wood, paper and bioplastic

which are much better for the environment.

Hotel Restaurant:

Hotels are procuring local and seasonal fresh produce to minimise food

miles and provide healthier cuisine. This also provides a greater connection

between visitors and the local communities.

18


WHAT ARE HOTEL CHAINS DOING?

DID YOU KNOW...

Carbon offsetting can also

be used for hotel stays.

Marriott Hotels

Run a ‘Linen Reuse Program’ that

encourages guests to use the same towels

throughout their stays. Marriott has also cut

their hot water and sewer costs by 17%.

Ask our team about our

carbon offsetting partners

and how they can provide

this for hotel stays.

Hyatt Hotels :

Hyatt are tackling their carbon footprint by reducing water waste and single

use plastic, recycling and donating unused food to local foodbanks.

Fairmont Hotels:

Provide financial support, raise awareness and create and maintain apiaries

and wild bee ‘hotels’. Every new and renovated hotel is low-carbon emitting

with unique eco-friendly practices like onsite organic gardens and ecocertified

products.

Hilton Hotels:

Committed to reducing waste including reducing food waste by 50% by 2030.

They have removed plastic straws and bottles from all event spaces.

Other initiatives include using natural

cleaning products, adopting food waste

composting programmes, replacing taps

and showerheads with low flow alternatives,

providing filtered water dispensers and

installing rooftop gardens.


19

DID YOU KNOW...

When travelling between

London and Paris, the

Eurostar only produces

22kg of CO2 per

passenger compared to

244kg of CO2 by air.

20


PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

Plane, train, coach, bus, shuttle, car hire, taxi… there are numerous

modes of transport available depending on your trip. Below are

some considerations to think about when choosing your method

of transport – try to combine the best mode for you and the

environment.

Trains use substantially less fuel than planes:

Rail travel is a great alternative to air travel if the route is

available and you have the extra travel time.

Take public transport instead of a car:

If possible, it is more eco-friendly to take public transport

rather than hiring a car or a taxi. The more people on public

transport minimises personal fuel consumption.

Choose a hybrid or electric rental car:

If you need to hire a car, companies such as Avis and Budget

offer fuel efficient options. Some hotels even offer discounts

such as free parking to those travelling by electric car.

Lift share where you can:

If you or your colleagues need to travel to the same airport or

arrive at a destination at the same time, consider a lift share.


21

v1.0 – May 2021

TRAVEL GREEN

INFLUENCING MINDFUL

TRAVEL BEHAVIOUR

Get in touch

Speak to our team today on: (01892) 571189

Or email am@ctbusinesstravel.co.uk

V9998 / 99162

Travel Green - Influencing Mindful Travel Behaviour

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