Technology and policy are key focus for corporate travel buyers pursuing sustainable travel strategies

Ahead of Earth Day on 22 April, new research published today by Business Travel Show Europe highlights corporate travel buyers’ attitudes towards sustainability, revealing that nearly two thirds believe sustainable business travel is possible (60%). For the 73% of buyers who do build sustainability into their travel programme, sustainable travel policies and technology are paving the way.

The most popular initiatives for achieving a sustainable travel programme are:

• Consider the impact of travel on the environment and make choices to limit this – 46%
• Offer travellers information on their carbon footprint – 44%
• Include policies designed to improve travellers’ health and wellbeing – 37%
• Reduce / be willing to reduce internal travel – 35%

Solutions for sustainable business travel

In addition, decarbonisation and, in particular, sustainable aviation fuel has gained in popularity as the preferred solution to achieving sustainable corporate travel, up from half of respondents (50%) in 2024 to 55% this year, followed by travelling less for 54% of respondents and working with carbon neutral suppliers (42%).

Table below shows how answers have changed compared to 2024 survey when asked what is the solution to sustainable travel? The most popular answers are:

Overcoming implementation barriers

For the 27% of those surveyed that don’t build sustainability into their travel programmes and don’t have a sustainable travel policy in place, lack of senior management commitment remains the primary obstacle for over a quarter of respondents (26%) – down from 37% in 2024 – suggesting a growth in commitment to sustainability practices from business leaders in the last year. Other significant barriers include:

• Currently in the process of appointing sustainability leadership (18%)
• Cost (15%)
• Inadequate booking tools, and technology which isn’t set up for carbon offsetting and to help source greener options(14%)

In line with the growing commitment from business leaders, the survey also revealed nearly a third (31%) of respondents are incorporating sustainable travel priorities directly into their broader business strategies. Additionally, over a quarter – 27% – are empowering employees to participate in sustainability initiatives, suggesting a growing recognition that sustainability success across travel programmes require both top-down commitment and grassroots engagement.

Commenting on the results Business Travel Show Europe Marketing Director Jonathan Carter-Chapman said, “This year’s research highlights that whilst there are still challenges when it comes to achieving more sustainable travel programmes, encouragingly, businesses are taking steps toward more sustainable travel practices through a combination of technological investment, policy changes, and adjustment in approaches to travel programmes.

“This year’s Business Travel Show Europe conference agenda includes sessions on ‘Getting your emissions reporting right’, ‘Sustainability and other ESG strategies that work’ and ‘How to develop your travel technology strategy’ to ensure that buyers can leave informed and inspired by the latest innovations available to inform future technology and policy strategies and help them achieve their own sustainability ambitions across their entire programmes.”

115 corporate travel and procurement professionals, EAs and PAs polled in March 2025. 78% of these were travel managers, 17% in procurement and 5% EAs/PAs. The geographical split was UK – 36%, Europe – 47%, RoW – 17%.

Business Travel Show Europe returns to ExCeL London from 25-26 June 2025 and will run alongside TravelTech Show and The Meetings Show to bring together over 700 qualified buyers and 200 exhibitors for high-level, in-person networking and a premium conference programme.

The article Technology and policy are key focus for corporate travel buyers pursuing sustainable travel strategies first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.