It’s no secret that the global mobility industry has a sustainability issue. Moving lives from one side of the world to another poses many obvious challenges to the environment, and many more not so obvious. Whilst relocations are invaluable for the growth and development of business, we still need to be mindful of the CO2 produced as a result.
ExpatRide released a white paper in May this year looking at the challenges and possible solutions for the industry. Titled ‘Driving Sustainability: The Case for Eco-Conscious Assignment in Global Mobility,” the whitepaper is a well-researched, pragmatic look at the realities of the industry.
'"By taking a holistic approach to Global Mobility and providing the right assignee support, it can be better for the environment to relocate a person than not to!"'
ExpatRide provide car services for Expats across the world. From lease to chauffeur driven vehicles, they’ve been supporting Expats for over 15 years. We’ll link to the full report at the end of the article, but here are some of our key takeaways:
New Talent, New Priorities
The drive to a sustainable future isn’t just about a moral responsibility, but a pragmatic one too. As the next generation of talent from Millennials and Gen Z enter the market, sustainability will become more important. In fact, over 37% of people aged 25–34 are willing to relocate to work, making them a great source for new talent for business.
However, with 40% of Millennials and Gen Z having claimed to change jobs over climate concerns, attracting the best talent may hinge on a company’s sustainability credentials.
Support Expat Choice
By adding in more sustainable options during the planning phase of a move, relocation teams can empower the employee to take control of their global impact.
This comes in at many points, but during cross-cultural training local options and expectations can be presented to the Expat to raise their awareness. With things like waste handling and recycling varying differently around the globe, a little knowledge of the options here can make a big difference.
Furthermore, providing more sustainable options for properties is also a good choice. Giving the employee information on property energy ratings and emissions is crucial to them making an informed choice.
Finally, integrating locally relevant and low-emission transport options should be central to policy. Whether that be electric vehicles, hybrids or similar, including these within the standard suite of options should be standard practice.
Though, again, this should be done whilst providing information on the implications of those choices. An electric car may be a low carbon choice, but they only work if the local area has suitable infrastructure to support recharging, for example.
Information is Key
Ensuring that Expats understand their options and the results of those options is crucial.
When we consider transport, for example, many people do not fully understand the difference between an electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fuel call electric vehicle. Without a solid understanding of what each is, the risk is that an employee will make a decision which, whilst it is better for the environment, is not suitable for their needs or their new home.
Employers should therefore be mindful to provide clear guidance on which options are suitable for the city and job that the Expat will be working in.
Does it make that much difference?
At the end of the day, will making these choices really result in measurable benefits to sustainability goals? The straight answer is yes. If, again using transport as a focus, an assignee opts for a fully electric car over a standard vehicle, then the reduction in CO2 emissions this will result in can offset the emissions from their relocation.
This is discussed in more depth and detail in the white paper, so we won’t spoil it here. But we found it surprising how quickly driving an EV can offset the emissions from even moving a 40-foot container from the US to the UK.
If you’d like to read the full white paper, you can download your own copy from the ExpatRide site.
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