Most Spanish companies measure their travel footprint, but are not very proactive
75% of Spanish companies already measure the carbon footprint of their travel, but only 5% have implemented proactive measures. European regulations are accelerating the implementation of sustainable transport plans, while the use of technological platforms is growing and the debate on realistic and effective mobility policies is intensifying, according to a report by Imbric and Forum Business Travel & Events presented in Madrid.
Corporate mobility is at a decisive moment. As European regulations drive emissions reporting and sustainability objectives gain weight, Spanish companies are beginning to rethink their travel policies. This transformation, however, is proceeding at different paces and is revealing significant operational and management challenges.
To advance the trends that are occurring in this field, Imbric and Forum Business Travel & Events have given light to the study "Keys to efficient and sustainable corporate mobility", conducted through surveys and interviews with travel managers of medium and large companies with headquarters or delegation in Spainóa.
Regulatory obligations and sustainability
New national and European regulatory requirements, such as the CSRD Directive, are accelerating the implementation of sustainable commuting plans and indirect emissions reporting (Scope 3). Although 75% of companies claim to measure their carbon footprint, only 5% have implemented proactive measures, and sustainability remains an irrelevant criterion in the choice of suppliers. In 59% of cases they limit themselves to “recommending” sustainable transport.
Technologyía and suppliers: intensive but fragmented use
98% of companies use Taxi/VTC and 96% rent-a-car for business trips, but two-thirds allow the employee to choose the supplier. Agreements with mobility operators are focused on cab and car rental, while services such as parking (28%) and sharing (10%) have a low presence.
Operational challenges and uneven maturity
The lack of clear policies (30%) and habitual non-compliance with existing ones (79%) hinder efficient management. The average spend per transaction is low (24&€), which leads to prioritizing convenience over optimization. Nineteen percent are unaware of mobility spending, while another 19% report that it exceeds 20% of their travel bill.
Trends and innovation
Emerging solutions include MaaS (Mobility as a Service) platforms, fleet electrification and telecommuting, valued by 62% as a way to reduce travel. The use of AI to optimize routes and blockchain to certify emissions are seen as the next key tools.
Strategic recommendations
The study concludes with a call to integrate technology, reinforce mobility policies, link sustainability objectives with concrete actions, pilot new solutions and foster public-private partnerships.
For his part, Óscar García, co-founding partner of Forum Business Travel, highlights: "Travel managers are assuming an increasingly strategic role. The key is to provide tools that allow them to have a global view of spending, emissions and opportunities for improvement.
Sample: The survey reveals a majority profile of large companies (73% with more than 500 employees) and a high sectorial representation, with healthcare-pharmaceutical (12.5%), food (9.4%) and technology (7.8%) standing out. More than 50% of the companies surveyed have between 30% and 70% of their staff as frequent travelers.