BCD Travel releases Responsible Travel Management White Paper

BCD Travel, one of the world’s largest global travel management companies, has released a white paper calling for companies to implement “Responsible Travel Management” policies and procedures. The white paper outlines the importance of a strategic approach to creating travel programs that integrate with their organizations’ overall Corporate Social Responsibility goals and stakeholder requirements.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has found a welcoming niche in the corporate travel industry. Sustainable development terms such as “carbon footprint” and “carbon offset” have moved into everyday business travel vocabulary. BCD Travel’s white paper, however, looks beyond the “greening of travel” to broaden readers’ perception of the role business travel can play in furthering their organizations’ CSR goals.

One Wednesday BCD Travel released its own internal Corporate Social Responsibility Principles, excerpts of which are included in the white paper.

Responsible Travel Management operates in two complementary dimensions: sustainability and accountability. In the area of sustainability, travel management can recognize and reduce the environmental impact of travel activities, while accountable travel management acts to improve employee wellbeing and security and promote ethical business standards throughout a client’s supply chain and stakeholder network.

Mary Ellen George, general manager of BCD Travel’s independent consulting division, Advito, which provided research for the white paper said, “It is crucial for companies to look closely at all the CSR directives that can be integrated in their travel program. If they think their work is done by installing a carbon calculator and choosing a carbon offset partner, they will miss important social and ethical components.”

Recent estimates suggest that business travel accounts for between 20 and 60% of most corporations' pollutants and that transportation as a whole represents about one-third of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable travel programs focus on reducing the environmental impact of travel by understanding the key points of impact and developing measures to reduce them, such as investing in initiatives and processes that reduce emissions and minimize the “footprint” caused by travel.

BCD Travel and Advito help companies measure their specific areas of critical impact, qualify “green” alternatives to common practices, and assist in the implementation and ongoing measurement of travel-related sustainability initiatives. The white paper emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for sustainable business travel, and that companies must evaluate the available options in light of their larger business objectives.

Accountability standards should also be reflected in every company’s CSR program. CSR policies should ideally contain initiatives to improve traveler wellbeing and security, as well as those to promote ethical business standards throughout the company’s supply chain and stakeholder network. For example, companies can mitigate risk and improve traveler wellbeing through a portfolio of solutions such as traveler tracking, destination intelligence reports, crisis alerts and medical repatriation. The white paper recommends that companies ensure their CSR policies related to travel are adequate, measurable and reflective of their organization’s culture as well as the needs of their community.

“The white paper reflects our belief that travel programs have an important role to play in integrating companies’ CSR goals, and that travel management companies have an equally important role in helping clients align their CSR goals with cost-effective results and environmental and ethical protection for the global market” George added.

See other recent news regarding: Tourism, Survey, Research, Climate Change, Environment