The sustainable travel hierarchy - what is it?

The travel hierarchy is a framework for deciding which mode of transport to use when making a journey by prioritising options that are the least emissions intensive. It's a useful visual tool to get everyone on the same page when it comes to business travel and commuting, and engaging your team to reduce emissions. Let's take a look at each step!

Walking & cycling

First up is the most sustainable option: walking and wheeling. Walking is emission free, and cycling creates zero emissions per journey (with only the cradle to grave emissions of the bike and accessories to consider at initial purchase). Travelling on foot or on bike should be the go-to option for short journeys, like the daily commute. Both methods are low cost, help keep you fit, and rely minimally on supporting infrastructure.

Electric bikes and scooters are also in this category, and a handy option for slightly longer journeys or for those who might need an easier option. Powered by electricity, they do generate emissions, but this impact is minimal compared to alternatives.

How can you encourage your team to walk or cycle?

• Participate in the cycle to work scheme, helping your team save on National Insurance and income tax through salary sacrifice when buying a bike.
• Install bike racks or arrange for safe third-party storage.
• Base yourself in a space with shower facilities (particularly handy for cycling on rainy days!).
• Be flexible on start times, giving your team the option to avoid cycling during peak traffic.

Public transport

Next up is public transport - trains, trams, underground and buses. This option is less emissions intensive than private travel because it is communal (moving large numbers of people is more energy efficient) and because electric trains and buses rely on the underlying grid mix of fuels, including some renewable energy, rather than 100% fossil fuels. The use of electric-based public transport also reduces roadside pollution, creating cleaner air in densely populated areas.

How can you get your team to swap the car for public transport?

• Locate your office / manufacturing site near public transport routes (e.g. a bus stop or tube station).
• Reimburse or subsidise travel through a commuting allowance (e.g. make train travel, bus tickets, or parking at the train station a company perk).
• Be flexible with start times. Sometimes the public transport timetable means getting in really early, or really late, making the car a much easier option. If your team can shift their day by 30 minutes, this may be enough to enable use of public transport.

Electric cars

After public transport, travelling via EV is the next best option. Whilst zero emissions (and pollutants) at the tailpipe, driving an EV in the UK does generate emissions. It does so based on the UK grid mix, the ways in which UK electricity is generated. This will be a blend of fossil fuels (<40% and gas only following the phase out of coal), renewables (45-55% - wind, hydropower, solar and bio), and nuclear. So, driving an EV still generates emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels (as well as the transportation and infrastructure required for all methods of electricity generation) but much less so than a conventional diesel or petrol vehicle.

If travelling by car, journey sharing is preferable (whether that's a taxi or car-pooling) as emissions are effectively split between passengers as the number of journeys is reduced.

How can I get my team to switch to EVs?

• Salary sacrifice schemes exist for EVs, operating in the same way as the cycle to work scheme.
• In London, ride hailing app Uber has a Go Green option which allows customers to book an EV at no extra cost. Making your team aware of this option is a good move.

Conventional cars

If a long journey can't be completed by public transport or EV, using a conventional car is the next option. Reliance on fossil fuels, tailpipe emissions (and pollutants), and the energy intensive nature of private travel make driving a conventional car a poor choice from a sustainability perspective. If transport infrastructure isn't up to scratch, consider whether even part of your journey can be taken using public transport (e.g. driving and parking at the train station), or whether you can lift share if travelling as a group.

Hybrids vehicles are further down the travel hierarchy than EVs, as they still rely on diesel petrol, but are less emissions intensive than 100% internal combustion engines.

How can I convince my team to avoid travel be conventional vehicle?

• All of the above pointers, plus...
• Plan your trips in advance. Many travel by car because of the flexibility it affords. Thinking about your trip ahead of time will help you to accommodate the fixed schedule of public transport.

Air travel

The last option, flights should only be taken over long distances where travel is necessary and alternatives are not possible or practical. A no domestic flights policy is a great way to put this into practice.

Let's take a look at a quick example journey, using data to bring the emissions impact of flights versus train-travel to life.

‍

‍

You can see from the above that choosing to fly Edinburgh to London has 8 times the carbon impact of travelling via train.

A final point to remember

The very first step should be checking whether travel is needed at all. Understanding that travel has an emissions impact should help your team think twice about travel.

To conclude

Engaging your team on the travel hierarchy, and taking steps to incentivise more sustainable travel options, is a great way for businesses to reduce emissions from commuting and travel.

Any questions, or for further tips and recommendations, get in touch at hello@seedling.earth.