About Project ICARUS
Project ICARUS was established to promote carbon reduction in travel management programmes throughout the UK business travel industry. The project is led by, and targeted primarily at, travel buyers/managers as we believe that any movement to reduce carbon emissions needs to be focused on this community.
As an organisation which represents over 1,000 travel buyers and suppliers ITM understood there was a requirement to implement a programme of change to cause a reduction in emissions. Far too many organisations throughout the world discuss the environment without making a difference. At ITM we believe it is not enough just to provide information on the issue. We believe that it is our role to help lead on this particular problem by providing guidance to those wishing to act and influence over those who feel they don't need to act.
Project ICARUS Takes Flight
ICARUS was conceived after the ITM conference in 2006, when a number of leading industry figures and journalists all independently discussed their concerns with ITM about a lack of leadership on Climate Change in business travel management.
The project received initial government funding from the Omega fund which allows ITM to work with leading institutions on this project, in particular the Airline Environmental Federation, Cambridge University and Cranfield University .
The Project Group
The project group was established after careful consideration and at this point in time comprises buyers, academics and consultants - no suppliers.
ITM has purposefully kept suppliers at arms length to ensure that its actions are not influenced by environmental marketing messages, or "Green wash" as it is commonly referred to. The association will engage the supplier community in the project's work in due course.
The Project's Goals
After its initial focus on Carbon Emissions, the project will look at other areas of CSR, such as other greenhouse gas emissions, duty of care and sustainable procurement in due course.
The project group has set about creating a plan of action to firstly inform buyers and suppliers of our environmental situation and the action they could take, and secondly to provide practical guidance and assistance for travel buyers to start on the environmental road.
The intention of ICARUS in the first instance is to drive the UK travel industry to reduce carbon emissions in line with government targets.
How ITM Defines Sustainable Development
At ITM, we subscribe to the overarching definition of sustainable development, from the Brundtland's Commission's report, Our Common Future (United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development 1987)
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"
Sustainable Development means inter-linking social, economic and environmental criteria. This can appear to be ambiguous, often generating competing priorities. ICARUS aims to help our industry develop and find a way through, by furthering the discussion and developing the tools for a corporate travel programme that is socially equitable, economically sound and environmentally conscious.
• Economics - Corporate travel is a key generator of economic prosperity and future opportunity in our globalised world. However, climate change is the greatest economic risk facing humankind. Global transportation contribution in avoiding catastrophic climate change is not an insignificant one. We must seek to develop corporate travel programs, and procurement methodologies, that advance our economies on a need led basis and opportunity.
• Environment -Corporate travel programs should monitor, evaluate and minimise their impact on both the global and local environment. Climate change is the single most important global environmental challenge society faces - but we must also acknowledge and address the local environment impacts corporate travel and supply chain can result in.
• Social - The business travel industry has a Duty of Care not just to its employees, but those individuals, communities and cultures touched by business travellers and suppliers. By fostering greater social equity and promotion of mutual values we can make global relationships more equitable, and foster beneficial economic partnerships. When procuring travel services we need to ensure open competition, alongside fair, healthy and safe working practices and conditions for all.
The Project ICARUS Carbon Reduction System
The initial goals of the project were successfully completed as follows:
- A Toolkit for buyers to use to implement a Carbon Reduction System
- A system of accreditation to recognise buyers who implement the toolkit and have success in reducing carbon emissions
- A system of awards to recognise suppliers who demonstrate leadership and innovation in making their products more environmentally friendly
Now the project has produced toolkit on Duty of Care it has also entered its next phase and we look forward to providing updates in due course.
Make The Commitment
ITM urges you, as a travel buyer, to sign up to the principles of ICARUS - to demonstrate to the supplier community that you are going to act! Send an e-mail to paul.tilstone@itm.org.uk to add your name to the growing list of companies who support the project through the following statement.
"As the travel buyer for my corporation, I fully and publicly support the environmental goals of ITM and am committed to achieving Project ICARUS accreditation."
It is the influence of leaders over those who follow which ITM is hoping to capture through this project, as this will ultimately drive the industry forward and ensure that we take voluntary action to curb emissions.
