ITM and CSR
Helping members to realise their organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility through responsible business travel is one of ITM’s key objectives, but that also means working to a dedicated CSR agenda as an organization ourselves.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is playing an increasingly important role in procurement as responsible business travel becomes a central element of company strategy, covering duty of care, traveller health, safety & security and the environment.
The primary objective of ITM as far as our members are concerned is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by finding lower emission travel alternatives (including videoconferencing), supporting suppliers who are adopting eco-friendly policies and technologies (such as a rail companies, linen re-use service or cleaner fuel) or reducing emissions by investing in projects supported by carbon offset specialists.
In other words:
- Eradicating
- Reducing
- Compensating
ITM has created an Environmental Impact Reduction Toolkit as part of Project ICARUS, the initiative for carbon reduction in the travel industry.
Click here to download a special edition of ITM's Newsline magazine dedicated to CSR.
ITM's own CSR agenda
ITM has introduced its own CSR policy which goes farther than simply aiming to reduce CO2 emissions. The policy's primary goals are:
- To minimise carbon produced by the organization through travel, by using alternative technologies such as tele and video conference where appropriate
- To move staff where possible to home working to maximise work/life balance and reduce emissions from commuting
- To minimise other carbon production through efficient lighting and heating etc
- To minimise paper and plastic wastage by communicating electronically wherever possible and recycling where these resources have been used
- To provide a safe, secure environment for staff and volunteers at all times
- To ensure staff and volunteers travel in comfort to allow them to work effectively
- To lead our peers in education on responsible travel issues
- To support local and national charities through fundraising at events - in 2008 ITM raised £12,000 for our Chairman's chosen charity, Cruse Bereavement Care, whilst our Scottish region raised £6,000 for Barnardo's Care and Hope Appeal! During our 2009 Conference almost £15,000 was raised to support our Chairman's Charity this year - The Princes Trust.
Download a full copy of the association's CSR policy ITM CSR Policy.pdf
