Transport in the UK accounts¹ for approximately a quarter of our total greenhouse gas emissions. A significant portion of these emissions are produced by people travelling to and from work, making business trips, and delivering products.

Many companies are wary of making changes to their transport operations as it can be an expensive and overwhelming switch, but there are a number of ways to reduce your CO² footprint without drastically affecting your bottom line.

1.) Encourage carpooling and public transport: A single passenger car journey in a medium petrol car has a higher carbon footprint² than the average emissions of a long-haul economy flight per passenger. Taking public transport or sharing car rides when possible is far more sustainable and friendly to the environment. If you have a business trip or work event that requires several employees to travel, consider arranging shared transportation to limit the emissions that are produced.

2.) SWITCH to electric or hybrid: While this may not be realistic for everybody, making a personal or company-wide switch to electric or hybrid vehicles is a great target. EVs have a higher price tag, and are therefore not universally affordable, but by signing up to a company electric car scheme, you can make the price more achievable for your employees by allowing them to purchase their vehicle through salary sacrifice. This can reduce the price by up to 30-60% and save on Income Tax and National Insurance. (See www.electriccarscheme.com or www.octopusev.com)

3.) Cycle and Walk to Work schemes: Of all the transport options available, cycling and walking to work are obviously the most environmentally friendly, although they are not always practical. Businesses can encourage their employees to take up these activities by introducing an incentive, i.e., leaving 15 minutesearly if youwalk or cycle home. Creating a company culture of 'thinking green' will motivatee mployees to participate in sustainable practices that will translate to their home life as well.

4.) Optimise deliveries: If you operate a delivery fleet in your company, consider introducing low-emission vehicles to accumulate CO² savings. Although this may sound like an expensive upgrade, take a look at this case study for a steel stockholder in the UK. Making incremental changes can be a cost-effective option for your business to support your green initiative. Optimising your delivery route will allow you to deliver orders to your customers in the most efficient manner. This also applies for deliveries to your company; having a more flexible window for delivery and ensuring that all your packages are delivered in one trip will slash the amount of emissions produced by the delivery truck.

5.) Promote eco-friendly driving: Teach your employees to save emissions when driving by introducing 'Drive Wise' posters or training sessions at your company. Simple practices such as not idling your vehicle, getting regular tune ups on your cars, and easing off the gas pedal and brakes will reduce air pollution, wasted fuel, and engine wear.

Author: Shirley Carruthers - Content Creator at ParkerSteel

References:
1.) https://www.gov.uk/government/st atistics/transport-and-environment-statistics-autumn-2021/transport-and-environment-statistics-autumn-2021
2.) https://ourworldindata.org/travel-carbon-footprint