Business travel can be a major contributor to a company’s sustainability footprint. For better business travel emissions management, start with accurate emissions measurement. 

Sustainability remains one of the most consequential priorities in business, even when other topics dominate the headlines. The regulations, disclosure requirements and stakeholder expectations that were driving urgency are still very much in motion. For Travel Managers and Executives, that means the work of building a credible emissions program can’t wait for sustainability to trend again. 

However, some companies attempt to manage their sustainability before they even begin accurately measuring it—that creates real risk as reporting requirements tighten. For example, expanding Scope 3 disclosure requirements, such as within the EU and certain U.S. states, require verified, auditable data. Accordingly, companies that have built sustainability programs on offset purchases or estimates will face credibility gaps when reporting obligations tighten. In contrast, companies that prioritize accurate measurement will be better positioned to produce sustainability reporting that holds up to scrutiny. 

Let’s take a look at why measuring a company’s business travel carbon footprint isn’t just a precursor to a sustainable business travel strategy—It’s a vital part of that strategy.  

Then, learn how to evaluate whether your current program has the data foundation it needs to support credible sustainability claims, and what a measurement-first approach looks like in practice. 

Business Travel Emissions Management Key Takeaways

• Many companies rush to implement sustainability measures before tracking their true emissions—which can lead to decisions without a solid data foundation. 

• Accurate data is a crucial part of business travel sustainability strategy. It is also increasingly required for Scope 3 disclosure reporting. 

• Travel Managers with a well-organized travel program may already have access to much of the data they need to begin measuring business travel emissions. 

Why Business Travel Emissions Go Unmeasured  

Business travel falls into the category of Scope 3 emissions. Yale experts define these as “indirect emissions from the supply chain … greenhouse gases generated by … delivery trucks, business travel, employee commuting and waste generated as part of company operations.” 

The majority of Scope 3 emissions are difficult to measure. However, business travel is one of the more visible and quantifiable categories. Flights, hotels, rail, car rentals and other trip details often create a data trail that can help companies understand their travel-related emissions more clearly. 

Still, many travel sustainability programs rely on incomplete or estimated data. According to the GBTA Foundation, there’s definitely room for improvement.  

Per the GBTA Foundation’s 2025 Sustainability Acceleration Challenge, now in its second year, in 2025, the average company participating in the foundation’s challenge scored a 1.4 on a scale of 0–5, in terms of their climate action maturity, with 0 indicating “no activity” and 5 indicating “leading practice” action. In 2024, the average score was 1.3, meaning minimal progress had been made, year over year. 

These findings point to a common challenge: many companies are still building the systems they need to measure emissions before they manage them. Currently, according to the GBTA, just over 60% of companies report emissions tracking, leaving 40% unaware of their true impact. 

What’s Behind the Rush to Act Before Measuring 

Several factors can push companies toward action before measurement. These include external pressure from boards, investors and/or regulators; carbon offset programs that offer a fast, visible response; and the complexity of gathering trip-level emissions data. GBTA similarly noted challenges including lack of truly transparent information. 

Together, these factors can make building a sustainable business travel program based on accurate measurement seem like a broad, long-term project rather than a necessary first step.  

As a result, measurement often lags behind intent. 

How to Measure Business Travel Emissions Accurately 

Measuring business travel emissions can feel overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be. Break down measuring business travel emissions into acquiring the following types of data: 

• Trip-level data by route and class of service 

• Hotel emissions data by property 

• Ground transportation tracking data 

• Supplier-level performance benchmarks 

As you gather your data, it’s important to do so correctly. 

According to the GBTA, many organizations make emissions calculations based on generic data such as fuel consumption or distance traveled. This approach is less accurate, so GBTA cautions against using it for strategic decisions. 

Some companies are turning to Travel Management Companies, suppliers and other partners to support more accurate and advanced emissions tracking methodologies. If you already have a well-configured managed travel program, much of the data you need may be available through your existing travel reporting. The tracking process does not have to become a custom data science project. 

A Travel Management Company can help make this process more manageable by connecting trip, supplier and emissions data in one reporting framework. JTB Business Travel’s PlanetForward Sustainability options, for example, support programs at different stages of maturity by helping organizations establish a baseline, monitor progress and make more informed decisions about their business travel emissions. Through Prime Numbers Core Reporting,companies can access more detailed sustainability reporting using data points such as aircraft type, load factor, booking class and more. For organizations that need a richer dataset, Thrust, offers additional reporting depth to help establish a more accurate emissions baseline and track sustainability progress over time. 

Together, these tools help Travel Managers move from estimates to clearer data, making it easier to evaluate progress, support reporting needs and make more informed decisions about business travel emissions. 

Steps to Build a Credible Emissions Baseline 

Start by establishing what data your current program captures and where the gaps are. Then, work with a Travel Management Company to configure reporting that surfaces emissions data alongside cost data. Use that baseline to set targets that are specific and defensible rather than aspirational. 

This approach will position you to act on sustainability credibly, with data that supports both internal decisions and external reporting. 

Build a Business Travel Emissions Strategy That Holds Up  

The companies that will lead on business travel sustainability are not the ones that moved fastest. They are the ones that built on accurate data. As Scope 3 reporting requirements mature and stakeholders demand greater transparency, the difference between a program built on measurement and one built on offsets will become very clear.  

Starting with the data is not slower. It is smarter. 

Northstar Travel Group is a JTB Corp company. JTB Business Travel may reference reporting or research published by Northstar; however, all commentary and recommendations in this article are independently developed.