Organisations that help their workers reduce their dependence on the car are not only benefitting the environment but finding there are financial and productivity benefits too.
In Bristol, global engineering company Arup has greatly reduced the number of car journeys made by its staff since introducing a travel plan which has reduced the number of loan car drivers by more than half in six years whilst walking and cycling levels have both more than doubled making for a reduced carbon footprint and healthier, happier staff.
In Exeter, EDF Energy launched its first-ever green travel plan in 2003, which has taken 400 cars off the road every day. Additionally, an on-site bus stop and company shuttle bus takes staff to and from the railway station and the numbers of staff cycling to work has risen from 1 in 100 to 1 in 25.
The National Business Travel Network (NBTN) - a Department for Transport initiative - is a business to business network that enables companies to share best practice and promote the idea of workplace travel plans.
Heather McInroy, NBTN Programme Director said:
"Our network exists so that we can demonstrate - through real examples - how businesses can reduce their employees' car dependency and bring about financial, social and environmental benefits.
"We hope that by demonstrating the successful initiatives out there that we can encourage and inspire more businesses and their employees to set up travel plans and more sustainable travel.
"As well as strong environmental reasons to reduce commuting and business travel by car, there are substantial cost savings to be realised by organisations too''.
NBTN members include a wide range of organisations, from global corporations and high-street names, such as AstraZeneca, BskyB, BT, E.ON, Orange and Vodafone, to government bodies and small companies. The NBTN has a strategy for all businesses - small or large, private or public sector.
