Cvent

The environment may be a victim of the down economy, too, according to a recent study by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) and European expense management company KDS. Of the 329 travel managers and business travelers worldwide surveyed, 79 percent of companies said that cost-cutting was a high business travel priority this year. Only 17 percent said that environmentally sustainable travel was a high priority.

However, this doesn't mean that Corporate Social Responsibility isn't important to organizations. According to the survey, the number of organizations with a CSR charter has increased from 59 percent in 2008 to 61 percent today. About 27 percent of companies prefer to do business with suppliers and partners practicing CSR policies.

The fact that an interest in sustainability has not translated into business travel is a matter of cost, Susan Gurley, executive director and chief staff officer of ACTE, said in a statement. "The survey shows that, contrary to some predictions, Corporate Social Responsibility has not fallen from favor in these challenging times. However, it also puts to rest the myth that good CSR practices automatically include greener travel choices. Under present economic conditions, green travel choices may frequently conflict with the greater urge to cut costs."

CEO of KDS Yves Weisselberger maintains that green travel has a bright future in the long run. She said, "Once the financial premium is erased, or the economy permits, we should expect to see green business travel become far more popular."