Risk news

Businesses in the UK have been called upon to implement smart travel plans to not only reduce carbon emissions but to cut costs.

Reducing unnecessary travel during the economic downturn can help companies financially, the National Business Travel Network (NBTN), part of the government's ACT on CO2 campaign, has stated.

Flexible working and home working can also help companies reduce their travel costs, while converting a company car to be greener and more fuel efficient can reduce the carbon footprint of a firm.

Over 60 per cent of employees who travel to work told an NBTN survey that they would take up a work travel plan if one was offered at their firm.

Programme director for NBTN Heather McInroy said flexible travel plans can also be good for employee wellbeing.

"Business resilience, recruitment, retention and business agility to meet customer demands is at the heart of this issue," she stated.

A recent review by Fleet News of a book on company cars showed that advertising firm Clear Channel worked with the Energy Savings Trust to save £200,000 a year on fuel costs and London congestion charges by deploying green fleet practices.