• Business travel emissions for 26 major tech companies are down by 49% compared to 2019.
• Only 7 of the 26 companies have set formal travel emissions reduction targets.
• Alphabet (Google) and Apple risk returning to pre-pandemic travel emissions without clear reduction goals.

New analysis by the Travel Smart campaign, led by T&E, reveals that tech companies are significantly cutting business travel emissions, with an average reduction of 49% in 2023 compared to 2019. However, without specific targets, companies like Google and Apple are creeping back toward pre-pandemic levels.

Of the 26 companies analyzed, only 7 have committed to travel emissions reduction targets. Those without targets, including major players like Alphabet (Google) and Apple, saw less impressive reductions in 2023—just -23% and -31%, respectively. This suggests a potential return to 2019 emissions if clear goals aren’t set.

“Tech companies have claimed to be climate leaders for a long time and many have substantially reduced their business travel emissions, but if they want to be credible they must set reduction targets,” said Denise Auclair, corporate travel manager at T&E. “How can Sundar Pichai say that Google is progressing to a sustainable future when its travel emissions are going in the wrong direction?“

On the other hand, companies like India’s Wipro, which set a goal of a 55% reduction by 2030, are exceeding expectations. Wipro achieved a 71% reduction in 2023, highlighting the value of setting and adhering to clear targets.

Related Article: Apple Halves Greenhouse Gas Emissions Through Clean Energy and Innovative Recycling Initiatives

This report follows similar findings from July, where T&E revealed that global consultancies had reduced their business travel emissions by 46% compared to 2019. In that sector, 12 out of 15 firms had set targets, including PwC, EY, and Deloitte, demonstrating the effectiveness of committing to specific goals.

The report underscores the need for tech companies—especially those touting their remote technologies—to implement firm reduction targets to avoid a return to unsustainable levels of business travel emissions.