Give us an overview of Blacklane’s sustainability policies. How are you supporting clients in this area?

At Blacklane sustainability is a long‑term obligation. We have carbon offset journeys all the way back to our inception and continue to grow the proportion of bookings taking place in electric vehicles. This means clients can bring more sustainable options into policy without sacrificing reliability or service quality.

Data is just as important. Clients can access reporting on spend, kilometres travelled and associated emissions, giving them a clear picture of ground transport’s impact and a baseline for reduction targets. Behind the scenes, we use technology, including AI, to cut empty mileage by better scheduling journeys, further reducing the carbon footprint per trip.

Crucially, we help translate all of this into policy. Our account teams work with travel managers and bookers to reframe ground transport policies so they reflect traveller demand for comfort and productivity, with sustainability sitting alongside duty of care.

What do travel buyers tell you about how they prioritise sustainability?

Buyers are very clear that cost pressures dominate today, but they also know sustainability can’t wait.

We regularly hear frustration that policies don’t always reflect values. Business travellers sometimes find their policies don’t match their preference for more sustainable options, which is a clear warning for policymakers. When booking choices are not aligned with traveller expectations or a company’s broader sustainability mission, out‑of‑policy behaviour inevitably creeps in.

When travellers go against policy, the challenge is about far more than emissions tracking – it touches cost control, duty of care and the ability to report accurately – so it’s an area where buyers and suppliers need to collaborate closely.

Do you have any advice on what key considerations a travel buyer should have in mind when implementing a sustainability‑focused ground transport policy for the first time?

First of all, get visibility. Without ground transport in the travel policy, there is almost no insight into total cost, emissions or risk. Buyers work with us as a trusted global partner so they have simple centralised booking and invoicing, plus consistent data showing where, when and how people are travelling, the emissions of those choices and what this means for carbon footprint and duty of care.

With accurate data and insight, we can recommend policy changes that nudge towards more sustainable choices or introduce new services. Increasingly, clients look at our longer city‑to‑city routes alongside a short‑haul flight. This can deliver sustainability benefits, reduce dead time at security and boarding, and create a calmer experience that also supports traveller wellbeing.

Secondly, define clear use cases. Consider scenarios where a high‑quality, reliable and safe service is non‑negotiable: late‑night arrivals, higher‑risk destinations, senior personnel, those pitching for new business, or guests with multiple appointments and complex schedules where a flexible
chauffeur booked by the hour can make the difference between a stressful day and a successful one.

Finally, build in reporting and review from day one. Agree what areas are important to measure – including sustainability indicators – and commit to evolving. The first policy should be a starting point, not the finished article.

What role does the travel policy have in increasing compliance with sustainability‑led goals?

Where ground transport isn’t clear in the travel policy, we see gaps in cost control, sustainability reporting and duty of care – travellers book whatever feels easiest and those choices vanish into unmanaged spend.

Our own research shows people frequently go out of policy to reduce journey legs, save time or improve comfort and productivity. If sustainable options are hard to find in approved tools, they will go elsewhere.

A good policy makes sustainable, in‑policy choices the path of least resistance: clearly signposted in the OBT, integrated with preferred partners and backed by service levels that travellers genuinely value.

Positive reinforcement also helps. Updating guidelines to add benefits or recognition for in‑policy, lower‑emission choices – rather than focusing only on restrictions – can reallly improve engagement, especially when the sustainable option is an experience upgrade.

How do travel buyers balance priorities such as sustainability and duty of care in line with other challenges, such as having a keen eye on budget?

Forward‑thinking buyers now treat sustainability, duty of care and budget as interconnected. Our research into traveller behaviour shows that when journeys are fragmented and stressful, travellers can lose substantial productive time – in some cases up to a full working day for the most senior executives. Once you factor that in, the most price‑attractive option on paper is rarely the lowest‑cost choice overall.

From a policy perspective, it’s about using a chauffeur service where it delivers the greatest combined value. When you look beyond the price and consider a holistic cost – including wellbeing, productivity, sustainability and long‑term partnerships – high‑quality ground transport can deliver some of the most impactful returns in the entire travel programme.

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