Temps de lecture : 5 min
Article written in partnership withThe WokiesOnline Escape Game, THE solution for your team building and remote corporate activities.
On the occasion of Bicycle Day and a few months before European Mobility Week (SEM), Positive Company® and The Wokies offers you a complete file to understand the issues related to the transport sector in companies and engage your employees in your decarbonization efforts!
But before getting to the heart of the matter: what is SEM?
Organized from September 16 to 22 since 2002, European Mobility Week (SEM) is an event that encourages companies and local authorities to promote cleaner mobility (biking, walking, public transport…). It was created as part of the 2030 Agenda and covers several of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (good health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities…).
Each organization can share the initiatives it implements and even be rewarded with a prize. This helps create a virtuous circle throughout the European Union! Some countries even outside the EU have decided to participate, such as Australia or many countries in South America. Each year, a theme is given to guide the initiatives.
In 2023, the theme was “Save Energy,” encouraging European populations to rethink their travel to reduce their consumption. While most efforts come from local authorities, we are seeing more and more from companies! This event is indeed a great opportunity to showcase your commitment and engage your team!
So, do you want to engage your employees in this transition to eco-mobility?
Let's start by (re)discovering the impact of the French transport sector!
1. L’impact du secteur des transports en France
Nowadays, the French tend to travel more and more. The trips can be related to activities, travel... However, work remains the primary reason for daily commutes. While most of the time these are short trips, it can sometimes be necessary to undertake a long journey for a business trip. Despite the fact that our home-to-work commutes have become almost automatic, it is still essential to be fully aware of their impacts! Our daily journeys indeed hide a significant degradation of the environment that many of us turn a blind eye to... This is also what the figures demonstrate:
- In France, transportation is the main emitter of CO2, accounting for 32% of the country's total emissions according to(Les Echos).
- 74% of French people still commute to work alone in their car (INSEE).
- 42% of French people whose workplace is located less than 1 km from their home commute by car(Le Monde)
- 36% of car trips made in suburban areas outside of Île-de-France could be done by bike (Le Monde).
However, it is not too late to change the game if the right entities take their role to heart. Knowing that most daily trips are home-to-work commutes, citizens' expectations are high regarding the involvement of business managers. Indeed, according to Welcome to the Jungle, for 29% of French employees the company is seen as one of the main players in the transition to eco-mobility. But then you are surely asking the following question: how can the company play such a role in this transition?
2. How can the company reduce its impact?
There are many eco-actions to deploy within the company to reduce its carbon footprint.
1. Inventory the carbon emission sources of your company
One of the first steps is to take stock of the company's consumption. Conducting an analysis of direct and indirect emissions is the essential starting point to then be able to adapt the measures to be implemented.
2. Review its business travel policy
Business trips are responsible for many polluting travels. It is therefore necessary to evaluate the importance of these each time. Is it really essential to visit your client on-site or can it be done via video conference?
Depending on the necessity of the trip, try to favor remote work. In cases where this trip is far and mandatory, ensure that your employees take the train rather than the plane. You can implement financial incentives as well as schedule adjustments.
Did you know? : Some companies have implemented Responsible Travel Time (RTT), which means additional days off to have time to travel responsibly. Specifically, this involves two days of leave (or rather “semi-off” days if the Wifi connection allows) in addition if the traveler provides proof that they traveled by train or carpooling. This system allows the employee time to make an eco-responsible trip.
3. Favoriser les mobilités douces pour les trajets domicile-travail
Consider implementing measures that encourage the use of bicycles. Here are a few examples: creating a secure parking area for bicycles, providing repair tools, covering part of the subscriptions for bike-sharing services, showers in the offices…
If using a bicycle is impossible for your employees, ensure they take public transport. First, it should not be forgotten that every company is required to cover at least 50% of the costs incurred by the use of public transport. Try to promote it within your company to show how beneficial it is! You can decide to increase this percentage to encourage the use of public transport.
Beyond this financial advantage, it is important to consider a schedule adjustment. Discuss with your employees a possible modification of hours to share a better experience in public transport. It may be necessary to stagger the arrival and departure times of your employees!
In the event that your workplace is not served by any line and you are several nearby entities facing the same problem, contact the public transport operators to see if a change would be possible in the coming years.
In the meantime, try to promote carpooling. For example, you can create an application (or first a simple Excel file) allowing everyone to register their place of residence and their availability for carpooling. Also, contact the companies closest to yours to discuss group carpooling. You can also leave priority parking spaces for those who carpool.
Ensuring that your company has the least possible impact on the environment is great, but getting your employees involved in the adventure is even better! Indeed, for a complete transition to eco-mobility, the efforts of all stakeholders are necessary! We provide you with the keys so that your employees are as motivated as you are to adopt eco-responsible actions!
3. How can we get employees on board with this initiative?
Getting your employees involved in the adventure may seem difficult because they may not be particularly sensitive to eco-mobility. However, there are many fun methods that can easily spark their interest. Here are a few examples…
1. Rely on thematic days
Having a day dedicated to an aspect of eco-mobility can allow your employees to dive into this universe and feel concerned. You can have days with broad themes like "Bike Day" or, on the contrary, more specific themes like "Day on the Mobility Orientation Law (LOM)." The more workshops you hold around eco-mobility, the more your employees will want to follow you in this approach!
Here are some examples of activities to set up for a day dedicated to biking:
- Bike repair stand : How many of us have set aside our bike since it got damaged? Calling in a repairman can help motivate former bike commuters!😀
- Intervention from an electric bike company : For those who are less accustomed, this is the perfect opportunity to consider adopting biking! By contacting a company that could let your employees test their bikes through a course, they could better envision using this mode of transport.
- Awareness workshop : contacting a group of bike enthusiasts who talk about the benefits of this practice will add even more credibility to your commitment!
2. Create challenges within your company
We know that when there is a competition with a reward at stake, it is easier to attract motivated people! So why not create contests among your employees? For example, you could have a challenge for the employee who can carpool with the most people, or hold a competition encouraging everyone to sort their waste better.
3. Les serious games : une méthode ludique pour capter l’attention de vos collaborateurs
Have you ever tested serious games? They make the transmission of serious content more appealing through playful and educational objectives! This is the case with escape games, which can also be done online (to avoid polluting travel 😉) or in person! They tend to encourage your employees' listening thanks to a more “fun” and active way of approaching very serious themes. Puzzles to solve together, videos, quizzes… A range of activities that will easily engage your employees! So, ready to raise awareness in a good mood?
Feel free to contact our partner The Wokies for more information.
Conclusion
If we take back→ Transportation is responsible for 32% of total CO2 emissions in France! An alarming figure that must be taken seriously! A solution? Raising awareness, especially within companies! To achieve this, it is necessary to implement measures that reduce the impact of the company's direct activities, but also encourage employees to get involved as well! 😉