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Sustainable business travel

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As a global University, we recognise that travel is sometimes essential for teaching, research, field trips, conferences and partnerships. We do not want to limit essential travel. However, we do want to make sure that, where travel is needed, staff choose the most sustainable options available. This supports our target to reach net zero carbon across all scopes by 2045.

Our commitments

The University is a signatory to the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice and the Climate Action Network for International Educators (CANIE) Accord.

Why this matters

Making business travel sustainable is important because:

  • Transport accounts for approximately 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions [1]
  • Emissions from air travel are predicted to rise out of the expansion of low-cost airlines and “revenge travel” after the COVID-19 pandemic [2]
  • There is a need for increased carbon awareness, carbon literacy, carbon accounting and carbon mitigation across the sector [3]

[1] Climate Action Network for International Educators. (2022). The CANIE COP26 Glasgow paper: A response from the international education sector to the climate emergency.

[2] Climate Action Network for International Educators. (2022). The CANIE COP26 Glasgow paper: A response from the international education sector to the climate emergency.

[3] Travel with CANIE (no date) Travel with CANIE. (Accessed: 18 May 2026)

Our guidance

Before booking business travel, staff should consider whether the journey is needed and how it can be made more sustainable.

Consider virtual collaboration first

Before travelling, consider whether the meeting, event or collaboration could take place online. Virtual meetings, webinars and digital platforms can reduce emissions while still supporting effective collaboration.

To help you decide, we recommend using the EAUC air travel justification tool. The tool is suitable for all staff members and supports you to reflect on the necessity of air travel.

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Plan travel carefully

Where travel is needed, consider whether one person can represent a wider group, whether trips can be less frequent, or whether several meetings or activities can be combined into one journey.

Choose lower-carbon transport

For shorter journeys, choose lower-carbon options where possible, such as train, bus, electric or hybrid vehicles, or shared transport.

Where flying is unavoidable, choose direct flights and economy class, particularly for journeys under eight hours, to help reduce the carbon impact.

Make mindful choices

Choose accommodation providers that share our sustainability values. Staying close to the place you are visiting can also help reduce the need for additional travel. Staff can use Clarity to compare carbon emissions when booking travel.

Plan sustainable conferences and events

When organising events, consider how attendees will travel. Promote sustainable travel options, reduce unnecessary printing and avoid single-use freebies where possible.

The Conferences and Events team can also support colleagues to make events greener.

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Case studies

Many colleagues are already finding practical ways to reduce the impact of business travel. You can read examples in the Sustainable Approaches to Business Travel Case Studies document, which shares useful approaches from across the University.

What we have achieved

Work to reduce business travel emissions is taking place across both academic and professional services areas.

Recent progress includes:

  • The new Sustainable Logistics department is working with Strategic Change to reduce the volume of business travel bookings.
  • The Sustainable Travel team is exploring how the CANIE Accord and Concordat commitments can be further embedded when we host and travel to academic conferences.
  • The Conferences and Events team has developed a Green Conference Catering package and received a Green Meetings Gold Award from Green Tourism.
  • Edgbaston Park Hotel is B Corp certified and holds a Green Meetings Gold award and ECOsmart Platinum award.

Our targets

We are aiming to:

  • Reach net zero carbon for business travel by 2045
  • Reduce the impact of University business travel
  • Promote sustainable travel behaviours with our local, national, and international networks
  • Develop best practices that can be shared internally and externally

Read more about our environmental pledges, partners, plans and progress

How to get involved

You can support more sustainable business travel by:

  • Following the business travel guidance provided above.
  • Checking whether your research funder has specific sustainable travel guidance for your project.
  • Reviewing your own business travel and identifying where you could reduce travel over the next year.
  • Considering how to collaborate with colleagues and external networks while reducing long-distance travel.
  • Forming or joining a Green Impact team with colleagues in your area. The toolkit features travel-related actions. Full details can be found on the internal Sustainability intranet.
  • Increasing your sustainability knowledge by working through our informal training courses. Staff can access these via the ‘Sustainability Training’ intranet page. Students can sign up to the Sustainability Hub on Canvas.
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