They gazed into the clear blue water of Venice’s canals and breathed in clean air as their cities locked down for Covid. Now research from Trainline Business sheds light on a desire for the pandemic to leave a lasting, green legacy.
Nine in 10 (91%) say sustainability is a priority for them when booking work travel, the survey of a thousand UK employees found, while nearly three-quarters (72%) said their interest in finding lower carbon transport has grown since 2020.
The data demonstrates the desire for lower carbon travel is a cross-generational trend.
Business travellers of all ages identify sustainability as a priority – not just Gen Z.
Studies have shown that switching to rail is one of the single most effective moves anyone can make to cut their carbon emissions. Travelling by train instead of plane creates a staggering seven times less CO2.
The survey found many UK companies were behind the curve in delivering the low-carbon transport that their employees crave. Just over half (51%) said their company either doesn’t have a specific policy to support lower carbon modes of travel, or felt support is limited to non-existent.
It’s a situation that threatens to cost firms top talent in recruitment.
More than half (53%) of respondents said they’d prioritise working for a firm that supported low-carbon travel over a competitor that did not.
Companies can choose trains for their work travel to help meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting requirements – and to satisfy their employees.
About the survey:
The research of 1,002 UK employees who plan to travel for work in the next 12 months (not commuting) was conducted among companies with 250+ employees by independent research company Censuswide in April 2023.