A recent SAP Concur study of nearly 4,000 global business travelers found that almost all (94%) plan to take near-term steps to reduce the environmental impact of their business travel.
In particular, millennial (96%) and Gen Z (98%) business travelers are most likely to focus on sustainable travel options—some (28% and 22%, respectively) going so far as to consider declining a trip if it requires using non-sustainable travel options.
We know this attitude rings true for leisure travelers, too—as more and more destinations, airlines, hotels, and tour companies rise to meet the demand for sustainable travel options.
At TripIt, we’re proud to offer practical ways to help you travel more sustainably—whether you’re heading out on your next business trip, vacation, or a blend of the two. Let’s take a closer look at how you can reduce your impact on the environment on your next trip using TripIt.
1. Find available transit options
When it comes to getting around your destination, you might not be aware of the transit options available to you. That’s where TripIt’s Navigator feature comes in, allowing you to search transportation options available in your destination. The feature will also show you the estimated costs and travel times for each option.
Here’s how it works:
- Open the TripIt app and select a trip.
- Tap any trip item (e.g., flight, hotel, restaurant reservations, and so on).
- Scroll down to Navigator, then tap Find Transportation Options.
- Review the available transportation options from your current location to your destination.
As for identifying the most eco-friendly options? According to Travel and Mobility Tech, walking has the lowest impact on the environment (zero carbon emissions), followed by traveling by bike, light rail, e-bikes, electric scooters, then electric buses. The full range of urban transit options and their respective carbon emissions can be found below.
Image credit: Travel and Mobility Tech
2. Track your carbon footprint
Want to better understand the environmental impact of your flights? With our Carbon Footprint feature, we automatically aggregate your flight emissions (post-booking) to give you a holistic view of your air travel footprint.
We calculate your carbon footprint using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the same methodology used by American and European government agencies. We take into account factors like distance, flight class, and environmental elements.
We also provide practical ideas on how to reduce or offset the environmental impact, such as taking direct flights, traveling by train, and more.
Related reading: Your Carbon Footprint—at Your Fingertips
You can view the carbon emissions for an individual flight, as well as your cumulative carbon emissions for all your flights in a certain year. To view the former, visit your flight’s detail screen and you’ll see the Carbon Footprint section. To view the latter, check out your Travel Stats in the Account tab.
3. Discover what’s within walking distance from where you’re staying (and more)
Not only is discovering your destination on foot a heart-healthy option, it’s the most eco-friendly option, too. And with TripIt’s Nearby Places feature, you can easily find places to eat, drink, pick up supplies, or even seek medical care close to where you’re staying.
For example, if you’re looking for a restaurant that’s within walking distance from your hotel, simply tap on the restaurants option in Nearby Places to view an interactive map with each option tagged. Tap the tags to view useful information like the restaurant’s contact details, hours, reviews, and more.
If you find a place you want to visit but can’t get there right away, you can save it in TripIt to visit later.
Tip: You can also use Nearby Places to make informed spending decisions. Learn more >
TripIt’s Map View feature is another way to discover what’s within walking distance from any location in your TripIt itinerary.
Here’s how it works:
- Open your TripIt app, choose a trip, and view the itinerary.
- Locate and tap the ellipsis (three dots) in the top corner of your screen. You’ll now see a map showing an overview of your trip.
- Tap any pin on the map to see the plan in the carousel at the bottom of the screen, or swipe through the carousel to see the map for a particular plan.
- You can tap “See Details” to see the entire plan or “See Transport Options” to determine if walking—or walking to public transit—is feasible from your current location (or from any other plan in your trip).
Want more practical ideas for traveling sustainably? Check out these 10 tips >
