As sustainability increasingly becomes a core business priority, corporate travel programmes are facing growing scrutiny. Travel managers are no longer simply expected to enable effective business travel, theyre also now asked to demonstrate measurable progress against environmental goals.
At the same time, expectations of Travel Management Companies (TMCs) are changing.
Once viewed primarily as booking intermediaries, modern TMCs now sit at the intersection of policy, data, technology and supplier choice. This places them in a unique position to influence how organisations travel by embedding sustainability into everyday decision-making.
With the International Air Transport Association (IATA) committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, achieving meaningful progress will require coordinated action across the travel ecosystem.
TMCs can support this shift in practical ways. From making lower-emission options more visible at the point of booking, to integrating carbon data alongside cost and convenience, and helping companies translate high-level sustainability goals into workable travel policies.
Beyond offsetting: Reducing emissions at the source
While carbon offsetting remains a familiar element of many sustainability strategies, attention is shifting toward reducing emissions at the source. TMCs can support this shift by integrating carbon impact data into the travel planning process, enabling companies to make more informed decisions about how, when, and why travel takes place, not as an afterthought.
This shift is already underway. Recent insights from the Global Business Travel Association reflect this momentum. 70% of travel buyers now integrate sustainability into policy, while 66% include environmental criteria in supplier RFPs, up from 55% in 2021. Companies are increasingly favouring rail over air for short journeys and prioritising hotels with stronger sustainability practices.
By offering clear visibility into the impact of different travel options, such as comparing routes or transport modes, TMCs can help embed sustainable decision-making into everyday workflows. This is how sustainability moves from company strategy decks into everyday travel decisions.
Data that drives better decision making
Accurate, accessible data is essential for more sustainable travel. By presenting real-time carbon emissions data alongside traditional metrics such as cost and convenience, TMCs can enable a more holistic approach to trip planning. An approach that reflects both business priorities and environmental responsibility.
Beyond emissions tracking, TMCs can analyse travel patterns, identify high-impact areas, and support policies that genuinely reduce travel-related emissions. This insight informs decisions, such as shifting to lower-carbon transport options, consolidating trips, or encouraging virtual meetings where appropriate.
Deloitte reports that 46% of companies have implemented travel emission budgets, up from 30% in 2023, allowing for monitoring at the team or individual level. However, only 37% currently track traveller emissions, and just 7% have defined carbon reduction targets, signalling a significant opportunity for TMCs to add value.
Broadening supplier choice to support lower-carbon travel
TMCs can support more sustainable travel by widening access to suppliers with stronger environmental commitments. By expanding the options available, such as prioritising rail, selecting airlines with decarbonisation strategies, or working with hotels implementing energy efficiency measures. TMCs can help clients align their travel decisions with broader sustainability goals.
The ability to surface these options in booking platforms and include sustainability data in procurement conversations gives companies the tools to make more informed, lower-carbon choices.
Aligning travel programmes with corporate climate goals
As more organisations commit to science-based targets and report against environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks, travel has come under greater scrutiny, particularly as a significant contributor to Scope 3 emissions.
TMCs can help bridge the gap between corporate climate goals and the day-to-day realities of travel. This includes integrating carbon data into reporting, advising on policy development, and providing strategic support in setting and achieving emissions reduction targets. Scenario planning can also helping clients model the outcomes of different travel strategies.
A sector poised for impact
While business travel remains essential in many industries, how it’s conducted must evolve.
TMCs are uniquely positioned to lead this change, helping clients rethink travel norms, adopt more sustainable practices, and reduce carbon impact without sacrificing effectiveness.
Doing this well requires more than reports and dashboards. It demands a clear understanding of where travel teams struggle most, from compliance blind spots to inefficient workflows and the hidden work culture that shapes how travel decisions are really made.
