Transport is one of the sectors where we can contribute most to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This applies at the individual level as well as at the level of companies and organisations, which cause a huge amount of travel and commuting. In this article, we will focus on commuting to work, arrivals and departures from work, and measures that employers can take to help reduce emissions and encourage employees to change their lifestyle habits, including outside of work.
The most significant source of greenhouse gases (CO2) is the use of fossil fuels. The main contributors are electricity and heat production and transport, which account for a quarter of CO2 emissions in the European Union, with road transport accounting for 71.7% of this. Transport is the only sector in which emissions have increased over the last three decades, rising by 33.5% between 1990 and 2019. (European Parliament 1, 2024)
All other sectors generate approximately 20% of emissions, of which agriculture accounts for around 10%, industrial processes 7%, and waste 3%. (Emissions inventory, 2024)
Through strategic traffic management, particularly the preparation and implementation of comprehensive transport strategies, cities have already begun to implement measures and ensure conditions for sustainable mobility. There is an increasing amount of cycling infrastructure, and emphasis is being placed on the importance of safe routes for pedestrians, efficient and functional infrastructure for public passenger transport, and other newer forms such as carpooling and car sharing. Cities are promoting changes in travel habits, introducing on-demand transport services, and in some places organising urban transport and automated city bike systems. We are still lagging behind in providing efficient and accessible public transport.
Sustainable mobility includes walking, cycling, using public transport, and alternative forms of mobility. Its goal is to ensure efficient and equal accessibility for all, with an emphasis on limiting private car traffic and energy consumption and promoting sustainable modes of travel (“Sustainable mobility, 2024”).
Small and large companies, healthcare and educational institutions, shopping centres, organisers of major events, and other institutions that have not been actively involved in traffic management plans to date are important stakeholders in the planning and management of efficient urban transport. By successfully addressing these challenges, institutions can have a visible and responsible impact on their local environment.
Employment centres (in various sectors) are one of the major generators of traffic in the city. Their peculiarity lies in the timing of rush hours, as traffic flows are usually concentrated in the same daily time periods throughout the city (arrival and departure from work). This naturally leads to traffic jams, in which we lose a lot of time, pollute the air with exhaust fumes, and create an apparent need for expansion and the construction of new roads.
How can a company influence traffic conditions in a city?
Due to our excessive attachment and dependence on car transport and its use even when other alternatives are available, we need to start changing our travel habits. With less use of cars, less space will be needed on the roads, there will be fewer traffic jams, and less need for road and car park expansion. People will also exercise more, which will have a positive impact on their health and well-being.
In this regard, a company could:
- Encourage employees to cycle, walk, use public transport, or carpool to work;
- Encourage employees to walk, cycle, use public transport, or carpool during working hours;
- Adjust working hours, arrival times at work, so that not everyone arrives at the same time, thereby reducing congestion on roads and at intersections (flexible working hours);
- Encourage working from home (e.g., one day a week);
- Set up a city bike rental station at the location;
- Use electric vehicles, cargo bikes, and bicycles for deliveries;
- Develop and implement a mobility plan, which is a plan of activities to improve/promote the accessibility of the location on foot, by bike, and by public transport.
There are various ways to encourage employees to change their travel habits. Everyone likes rewards, many people like to compete, everyone likes to see the benefits for their health, and some also like to see the benefits for the environment and future generations.
Types of incentives and measures:
- Effective mobility management: collecting and disseminating information on timetables (on notice boards, in internal newsletters), routes, and travel companions (carpooling table available to employees);
- Rewards or campaigns (e.g., employees with the most sustainable commutes receive a practical reward related to mobility or some other benefit);
- Rewards (financial, practical) for kilometres walked or cycled on the way to work;
- Promotional events, e.g., cycling breakfast, collecting kilometres with a team of colleagues (once a month, employees who commute to work in a sustainable manner are offered a healthy breakfast free of charge);
- Sustainable mobility ambassadors;
- Infrastructure adjustments: showers, changing rooms, bicycle storage (secure, covered), comfortable public transport stops, safe and comfortable pedestrian access from public transport stops to entrances, connecting the location with footpaths to the main routes leading to the location, supporting or building a bicycle network near the work location;
- More casual dress code in the company;
- Limiting the number of parking spaces (e.g., gradual reduction);
- Introducing paid parking;
- Organising bus transport to work;
- Parking bonuses for employees who share transport (parking closer to the entrance, rewards);
- Putting up signs or making brochures with info on how long it takes to get to work on foot/by bike;
- Meetings during walks;
- Lectures on why it’s important to change travel habits and the benefits for individuals;
- Company bikes for transportation during work hours, etc.
We are not only pursuing climate goals, but such measures also benefit the company. Regular exercise in the form of active mobility (walking, cycling, scootering, etc.) improves the mental and physical well-being of employees and reduces sick leave due to regular exercise. Fewer cars in the vicinity of the company and on the way to it through the city have a positive impact on traffic flows and less time lost in traffic jams. The measures you implement will be talked about: your company’s social reputation will improve and you will also have the opportunity to obtain various certificates, such as Pedestrian-Friendly Institution, Cyclist-Friendly Employer. At the same time, your socially responsible behaviour will establish your reputation in the community, connect you with the local community, and make you a trusted employer. By reducing the number of people arriving by car, you will also save space around the company—the need for parking spaces will be reduced. You can use the space gained to create a park and thus create additional CO2 sinks, or you can use it to expand your premises.
By encouraging changes in travel habits among your employees, you will also have a broader impact. You will generate less car traffic, which means fewer traffic jams and less need for road and car park expansion. This will allow communities to allocate more space for other activities (playgrounds, parks, etc.) and reduce infrastructure maintenance and renovation costs. Residents will enjoy a higher quality and more pleasant living environment.
When introducing incentives to change travel habits, we must of course also be aware that not everyone will be able or willing to join the new initiatives. Limitations may include an inadequate range of alternative modes of transport, particularly a poor range of efficient public transport options. They may be concerned about taking their children to kindergarten or running errands after work. They may be unable to use active forms of mobility, such as walking or cycling, due to health problems, distance or terrain (inclines), or inadequate infrastructure. It is important to try to weigh up all possible options with each individual, as it often turns out that the biggest limitations are within ourselves. When we try out alternatives and practise them over a longer period of time, we can also feel the personal benefits. Every employee who seeks an alternative, carpools with a colleague, or adapts in another way counts. And every kilometre we change matters in terms of total CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions and creating a (better) future, our future.
Example of good practice:
Several companies within the Trata business zone in Škofja Loka have joined forces to promote sustainable modes of transport to work and have implemented joint incentives. The measures were defined with the help of a mobility plan. They introduced mobility coordinators and, among other concrete measures, campaigns, infrastructure adjustments and improvements (e.g., bicycle racks, stands, bicycle rental systems), prepared an initiative to improve public passenger transport, set up a carpooling platform, and also addressed parking management.
More at: https://www.ra-sora.si/trata21/
Author: Katarina Ostruh
Sources:
- European Parliament 1, 2024: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/sl/article/20190313STO31218/koliko-izpustov-co2-v-eu-povzrocajo-avtomobili-infografika, cited on 3 November 2024.
- Emissions records, 2024: https://www.gov.si/teme/emisijske-eveidence/, cited on 3 November 2024
- Sustainable mobility, 2024: https://www.gov.si/podrocja/promet-in-energetika/trajnostna-mobilnost/, cited on 3 November 2024