What is Sustainable Travel Leave?
Flo
Replacing a deadline-driven week with a train window offers a kind of peace that's hard to beat at the start of a holiday. But for many people, choosing the train over a flight still feels like a luxury they can't afford. Not just in money, but also in time.
A rail journey from London to Berlin cuts carbon emissions by roughly 85 per cent compared to flying, but it takes around seven hours longer. When you've only got a limited number of holiday days, spending one of them on travel can feel like a waste. That's where Sustainable Travel Leave comes in.
Hatice Baran
What is Sustainable Travel Leave?
Sustainable Travel Leave is a workplace policy that gives employees extra paid days off when they choose low-carbon travel for long-distance trips, so the journey doesn't eat into their standard holiday allowance.
Employers opt in because they want to lower their carbon footprint and encourage sustainable travel across their workforce. Employees get the freedom to travel by rail, road or ferry without sacrificing their time off. The extra travel time is covered by a modest additional leave allowance, so climate-conscious choices don't come at the cost of personal downtime.
The policy can apply to both leisure and business travel, supporting corporate carbon reduction commitments while improving fairness and access to low-carbon travel across the team.
At Byway, we have seen the impact of this firsthand. Our community of over 20,000 travellers consistently tells us that the journey is the highlight of their trip, and Sustainable Travel Leave means they don't have to choose between the journey and their time off. We make sure our own team can embrace this mindset too; every Byway employee is given extra paid days off for their own flight-free holidays. It’s the next logical step in making slow travel the mainstream choice.
Possible.
Meet Possible: the charity behind Sustainable Travel Leave
Sustainable Travel Leave was pioneered by Possible, a climate charity working to speed up the transition to a zero-carbon society. Their research found that while 67% of UK flyers say they want to fly less, the biggest barrier wasn't willingness, but time. So they created this free programme that gives employers everything they need to offer Sustainable Travel Leave: guidance, legal templates and communication tools to make the policy official and easy to implement.
Over 200 organisations have signed up so far, including Friends of the Earth, Keep Britain Tidy, Alliance, Bryt Energy and Sawday's. It's a practical framework that makes low-carbon travel a realistic option for employees, rather than something that only works if you're willing to sacrifice your holiday to do it.
Kevin Charit
Why slow travel and Sustainable Travel Leave is a workplace win
Sustainable Travel Leave is good for the planet, but it's also good for business. Offering it sends a clear signal to employees that your organisation takes its environmental commitments seriously, and that it values their wellbeing too. Employees who travel by train or ferry rather than flying tend to arrive at their destination more rested. They're not dealing with early morning airport runs, security queues and delayed connections. And because the policy gives them extra time, they're not coming back from holiday feeling like they've spent half of it in transit.
It's also a recruitment and retention tool. Possible's research has shown that over 70% of workers under 40 consider a company’s climate policies before accepting a job. Policies like this show that a company's values go beyond a statement on the website.
Slow travel itself has wider value too. Byway's data shows that 73 per cent of our travellers' nights are spent in off-the-beaten-path locations. Sustainable Travel Leave gives you the freedom to explore these places properly. It turns a travel day from a logistical hurdle into a meaningful part of the holiday itself, which is better for them, and the planet.
Cihat Hidir
How to set up Sustainable Travel Leave in your workplace
Setting up a Sustainable Travel Leave policy is surprisingly straightforward. Here’s how to set it up:
For employees: how to pitch the idea
If you want to suggest this to your employer, start by framing it as a low cost, high impact perk. It's a unique benefit that helps with staff retention and recruitment, particularly among employees who care about sustainability, and it gives the company a tangible way to demonstrate its commitment to carbon reduction targets. Point your employer towards the Possible website, where they can find all the ready made templates to make it official.
For people managers: why it makes business sense
As a manager, implementing Sustainable Travel Leave is a clear way to lead on your ESG goals. For B Corps or mission driven businesses, it is a practical way to reduce Scope 3 emissions. It signals to your team that you value their time and their values. Most companies offer two extra days of leave per year for flight-free travel, which is a small operational change that yields huge rewards in employee engagement and brand reputation.
If you’d like to explore Sustainable Travel Leave - or help bring it to your workplace - arrange a 15-min chat with Possible.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sustainable Travel Leave
Does Sustainable Travel Leave only apply to Europe?
No. While many Byway travellers use it for European rail routes, it applies to any journey where you choose a low carbon alternative over a flight. This includes long distance ferries, coaches or even cycling trips.
How do I prove I have used the leave correctly?
Most employers just ask for a copy of your travel tickets, such as a rail booking or a ferry confirmation. Companies like Byway provide clear itineraries that serve as documentation for HR.
Is Sustainable Travel Leave only for climate experts?
Not at all. The 200 plus companies already using it come from every industry, such as energy, travel and climate organisations. It’s a mainstream policy for anyone who wants to travel well.
Can I use it for my commute?
No, Sustainable Travel Leave is specifically designed for leisure or business trips that would otherwise involve a flight. It is about enabling sustainable long distance exploration.
How does Byway fit in?
Byway is the world’s first flight-free route planner. We use our network of 160 destinations across 20 countries to build seamless journeys that make the most of your travel leave. We take care of the logistics so you can focus on the view.
Further information
Ready to use your extra time well? Explore Byway Maps to plan a journey that is worth every minute.
Read our blog about the art of slow travel, or about how Byway has grown fast by slowing down.
