Travel

Our business travel is a significant contributor to our total emissions. Between 2007 and 2008, CO₂ emissions from our business travel decreased by 16% (48,668 t/CO₂ in 2007 vs 40,840 t/CO₂ in 2008). However, on a normalised basis there was the equivalent of a 30% decrease.

Since 2003, absolute transport emissions decreased by 4%, with an equivalent 37% decrease on a normalised basis. In 2008, air travel represented 74% of our total travel emissions, cars were responsible for 26%, and rail less than 0.1%. As part of our updated targets, we will be striving for another 5% reduction in travel by 2015.

The decrease between 2007 and 2008 was led by a 27% reduction in the associated emissions of long-haul travel, increased management control, and continued expansion of travel alternatives – including those profiled in a central, new global travel portal – such as teleconferencing, video conferencing, and webinars. See a detailed breakdown of our 2008 travel emissions.

In order to estimate savings through travel alternatives, we identify the emissions that would have been produced if we had travelled rather than using our Nemo real-time collaborative meeting rooms in Amsterdam, London, and New York. In 2008, this equated to 259 t/CO₂.

At the close of the year, we introduced a new system to allow us to capture the positive impact of future video conferencing. In 2009, we will begin implementing a unified communications system, which will include personalised video conferencing and voice over internet protocol.

As well as working to reduce our own travel emissions, we have been helping our customers reduce theirs by promoting alternative meeting options. For example, Reed Construction Data’s annual forecast conference has been held in Washington, DC for the last 10 years, involving 50 staff and drawing an average audience of 200. In 2008, by running the conference as a webinar, we increased participation – attracting over 1,200 attendees – while eliminating the associated travel impact.

In 2007, our carbon footprint study of the Elsevier journal Fuel, identified 24% associated product emissions from commuting. To reduce this, and encourage employees to find the lowest impact travel option, we have included travel plans in the new RE Environmental Standards programme. We continue to promote home working, biking to work, and better parking options for employees who car pool. To encourage greener alternatives, LexisNexis US maintains its award-winning Alternative Work Solutions programme, which promotes environmentally friendly commuting options.