Small choices, big impact: making business travel more sustainable at the University
26 Nov 2025
This World Sustainable Travel Day, we’re celebrating the steps colleagues are already taking to reduce travel emissions - and highlighting the support available to help you make easy lower-carbon travel choices.
Reducing business travel emissions is a University-wide target, but it’s everyone’s responsibility to do their part. Choosing lower-carbon options wherever feasible helps us meet the University’s goal to halve aviation emissions from 2018/19 levels, while demonstrating leadership on climate action in higher education.
Why it matters
Business travel is a significant source of carbon emissions for the University. Before booking a trip, consider whether it’s essential or if there’s a smarter way to achieve the same outcome.
Could fewer people attend, could it be joined virtually, or combined with another journey? Thinking carefully about how we travel helps cut emissions, save time, and use resources wisely.
- A trip from Manchester to Paris produces around 190 kg of carbon by air, compared with just 50 kg by Eurostar - a reduction of nearly 75%, equivalent to running an electric shower constantly for two days.
Before planning your next journey, use this simple carbon calculator to explore the carbon savings of different travel options.
If you’re travelling by rail, please remember to book all train travel via Key Travel. This ensures you’re protected in the event of delays or cancellations.
Support for Sustainable Business Travel
Public Transport, Cycling and Car Share Expenses
If you’re travelling locally for meetings or conferences, did you know you can claim expenses for the bus or tram, as well as mileage for cycling or car sharing with colleagues? It’s good for your wallet, wellbeing, and the planet.
- Car share: 5p per mile per passenger in addition to the standard car mileage rate
- Cycling: 20p per mile for business journeys
Sustainable Business Travel Top-Up Fund
Need a little extra to cover the cost of a lower-carbon option? The Sustainable Business Travel Top-Up Fund helps bridge the budget gap when sustainable choices - such as rail or ferry - cost more than flying.
Chris Godfrey, Senior Lecturer in Finance, travelled overland to a conference in Palma and found the mix of ferry and rail not only far more relaxing than flying but also surprisingly productive, with long train legs creating space to work and think.