We have a huge responsibility to do our best to minimise pollution to help create a greener, more sustainable planet for generations to come. This is especially important as the UK government strives to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 – one of the most ambitious targets in the world.
Our daily commutes have a major environmental impact on our carbon footprints and the way we choose to travel to the office is one of the biggest and most important day-to-day climate decisions we face.
Are you wondering how to minimise your environmental impact of commuting? Read on for our tips for a green commute.
Walk or Cycle to Work
Walking or cycling to work and incorporating exercise into your daily commute, has been linked to a better health and better mood and consequently, opportunity for a better planet.
So why not give the green and more healthy way of commuting a go? It’s worth checking out the Green Commute Initiative - a Social Enterprise that aims to get commuters onto any kind of bike. This includes the use of electric bikes which are great for tackling challenging uphill climbs and ideal for shorter commutes or even a quick pop to the shop.
There is also the Cycle to Work scheme, an employee benefit that saves you 26-40% on a bike of any value and accessories. You pay nothing upfront, and the payments are taken tax efficiently from your salary by your employer.
Many of our vibrant workspaces also offer secure bike racks for our tenants to use so you can lock up and leave your bike with peace of mind.
Jump on the latest craze and Scoot
To support a ‘green’ restart of local travel and help mitigate reduced public transport capacity, in July 2020, the Department for Transport (DfT) made regulations allowing trials of rental e-scooters to be fast tracked and expanded.
With these trials now live in 31 regions across England, you could have the option to jump on the latest craze of scooting to work. Areas that are trialling this new and environmentally friendly way of commuting include London, Brighton, Oxford and Edinburgh – all cities with an Ethical Property office.
Use Public Transport
If walking or cycling to work isn’t an option for you but you still want to reduce your carbon footprint, then choosing to travel by public transport is the next best thing for the environment. Take the train, bus or tube to work and use the time to scroll social media, delve into a new book or tune into your next Netflix series episode.
Hybrid Working
With more and more workers opting for a flexible and hybrid way of working, working from home a couple of days a week could help keep our carbon footprints lower than ever before. Working remotely eliminates the need for a daily commute at all, which in turn reduces our carbon footprint and can improve work/life balance.