For the third consecutive year, SimScale has measured its Corporate Carbon Footprint, an indicator that helps us understand how many tons of carbon we are emitting into the environment as a result of our business. Measuring the impact of our actions on a recurring basis helps us to identify those areas that require specific actions or customized programs. Without this information, we would not be able to understand the consequences of the initiatives we are taking to reduce our emissions.
With enough experience and data to compare, we have clearly identified one of the main components of our footprint: business travel. While technology and new practices have reduced the need for travel in the business world (e.g., through the use of video calls), it is still usually necessary to strengthen ties or fulfill formalities. This implies that reducing corporate travel to zero becomes an unenforceable practice. However, SimScale (within the framework of the ESG policy and strategy) aims to actively and consciously reduce all such reactors to a minimum, so that the impact on the environment is reduced accordingly.
For this reason, SimScale has recently launched an internal sustainable business travel guideline. It includes a series of suggestions and best practices to help team members make travel decisions that prioritize sustainability principles.
First of all, we recommend that all meetings be held virtually. We see it as the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible. If the particular conditions of the meeting prevent it from being done this way, then it will be important to follow a series of recommendations based on the means of transportation to be used. For example, in the case of air travel, it is important that flights are in economy class. Also, priority should be given to direct flights or flights with up to one stopover. We also recommend comparing the emissions generated by the different flight options and opting for the one that generates the least carbon emissions.
For land travel, we always recommend the use of cleaner means of transport such as trains. Alternatives such as buses (depending on route availability) are also valid depending on the circumstances. Only when neither of the above is available is individual car rental recommended.
Accommodation is also an important aspect of any business trip. In this section, the possibility of choosing hotels or apartments framed as sustainable properties is something absolutely desirable, as it is that they have green certificates or indicate the use of renewable energy.
These recommendations, among others, help firstly to promote internally a greater awareness of our impact. On the other hand, they also influence the metrics of future carbon footprint measurements. In other words: sometimes we might not have the chance to choose when not to travel, but we have the opportunity to do it in a sustainable way. And that’s a step forward in our commitment.
Stay tuned for more insights into SimScale and see what the team has been up to on our @lifeatsimscale Instagram feed. Want to start your own SimScale story? Make sure to keep an eye on our careers page for possible openings!
