Sustainability guidelines in companies: UK and France lead while Germany lags behind

Neu-Isenburg, February 20, 2025

Sustainability guidelines in companies are increasingly shaping environmentally friendly decisions in business travel across Europe. Encouragingly, 41 percent of respondents indicated that their company has already implemented such guidelines—an important step toward more sustainable practices. This is the result of a survey of 529 business travelers in nine European countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) conducted by corporate payment expert AirPlus.

Sustainability guidelines: UK and France as forerunners

Sustainability guidelines are an important lever for promoting environmentally friendly decisions. 41% of respondents across Europe stated that their company has already introduced such a guideline. However, the results highlight regional differences, showcasing the varying areas in which sustainability is being prioritized in business travel policies.

While only 20 percent of companies in Germany have sustainability guidelines, the figure is significantly higher in other countries: 48 percent in France, 54 percent in the UK and 42 percent in Italy. Nevertheless, there is strong support for such guidelines: 45 percent of respondents would welcome a sustainability policy, and 57 percent believe that it would encourage them to make more environmentally friendly decisions when it comes to business travel. On the other side 20 percent would feel restricted by it, while 11 percent speak of being patronized.

A detailed examination of the content of such guidelines shows differences between the countries. In Germany, 24 percent of respondents have a CO2 budget anchored in their guidelines, while in France 32 percent and in the UK and Italy 50 percent each rely on a fixed CO2 budget. A CO2 budget sets a maximum amount of carbon dioxide emissions that can be caused by certain activities, such as business trips. The goal is to limit environmental pollution through targeted measures and to promote sustainable behavior.

Sustainability guidelines are particularly strict when it comes to domestic flights: 40 percent of respondents stated that such flights are prohibited in their companies. The steady decline in domestic flights corresponds to the general trend mirrored by the AirPlus Business Travel Index. While 20 percent of business flights in 2019 were domestic (49 percent), this share dropped to 13 percent this year.

Another aspect of many sustainability guidelines is the requirement to book economy class tickets instead of business class tickets – an approach that is common throughout Europe.

High willingness to travel more sustainably

The survey results show that 63 percent of European respondents want to reduce the environmental impact of their business trips. Interestingly, the majority (70 percent) of German respondents stated that they very rarely or never fly for business. In countries such as the UK (37 percent), France (31 percent) and Italy (33 percent), on the other hand, a significant proportion of respondents often or very often travel by plane. The proportion of train journeys is similarly high across the respective countries (49 percent).

Support from companies could be improved

The survey also shows that there is a need for action when it comes to support from employers. Financial support for the use of public transport is provided to 45 percent of respondents, and approximately 35 percent report access to electric or hybrid vehicles when travelling for business, showcasing efforts toward greener alternatives. However, other critical measures, such as the transparent visualization of CO2 emissions from hotel stays (22 percent) or chosen modes of transport (26 percent), are less commonly addressed. Additionally, only 29 percent of respondents state that their company implements knowledge sharing on sustainable business travel, indicating a gap in fostering awareness and education.

These findings emphasize the importance of companies adopting a more comprehensive approach to sustainability in business travel. Clear sustainability guidelines and enhanced employer support can significantly contribute to reducing the environmental impact of corporate travel while empowering employees to make more informed, environmentally friendly choices.

About AirPlus International:

AirPlus International is a leading international provider of corporate payment solutions. 55,000 corporate customers rely on AirPlus for the payment and evaluation of their business trips and other purchasing services. The products and services are marketed worldwide under the AirPlus International brand. AirPlus is an issuer of the UATP and Mastercard card schemes. The AirPlus Company Account is the most successful billing account within the UATP. For more information, visit www.airplus.com .