ILRT's Corporate and Social Responsibility Policy commits all staff to a "wish to reduce our environmental impact, and to contribute towards social responsibility, particularly in the areas of our social, economic and environmental choices". This Travel and Transport policy applies to staff employed in ILRT and, as far as is possible, to visitors, associates and participants in activities (e.g. workshops, meetings) organised by ILRT staff.
6% of carbon emissions in the UK are from aviation; 20% from road transport. The operation of this Policy aims to reduce our 'business miles' carbon footprint year-on-year. The majority of our activities are funded by the JISC, which also strongly encourages the reduction of environmental impact amongst its own staff.
We will make available to all staff information about the University's Transport Plan and other tools and resources to support this Policy.
We encourage the use of teleconferencing, Skype, videoconferencing or the Access Grid as alternatives to travel, particularly for meetings where participants are already known to each other. We will consider purchase of additional equipment if demand exceeds current levels.
We will refer visitors to the 'Maps and Directions' page on our website and encourage the use of public transport or alternatives (e.g. cycling, walking) in other communications with visitors.
Where travel is really necessary, the start/end times of meetings or other events should be arranged by us, or negotiated with others, to maximise use of public transport (this may also allow us to take advantage of lower costs).
Wherever possible (and safe) staff booking travel should seek alternatives to the use of taxis from home/office to railway stations, and between railway stations and the final destination. Those travelling should seek the relevant information on bus/tube times and walking routes before travel.
Projects or services planning to participate in an event (exhibition, conference, meeting etc) likely to be attended by others in the Institute should coordinate transport and travel needs to ensure the most effective use of public transport and road couriers.
The use of cars/mini-buses for business travel should only be contemplated where a number of staff would otherwise be travelling separately by public transport or car, and/or this removes the need for separate road courier transport. If a car is to be used we recommend staff adhere to the Eco-driving practices.
Domestic flights are strongly discouraged and should be avoided wherever possible; no flights should be taken between Bristol and Manchester, or other airports within a similar distance, unless in exceptional circumstances (which should be discussed in advance with the ILRT Director). We will review the distance within which domestic flights may be taken, with a view to extending it, on at least an annual basis.
We will make our policy clear in proposals for funding and responses to tenders for work (where the format allows), and will apply a travel supplement where clients require more travel than we believe necessary for successful delivery of the work.
We hope to monitor our 'business miles' by various means of transport and to reduce overall business miles, and in particular those undertaken by the most carbon-significant methods (air, road), year-on-year.