According to a new global study, organisations are sticking with their commitment to greener travel, despite the recession, but bosses are felt to be setting a poor example in their own travel choices.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) and KDS, a specialist in online Travel & Expense management systems, have undertaken an international survey of attitudes towards business travel and the environment.

Unsurprisingly, cost-cutting is said to be the top business travel priority for organisations, but it is striking that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes have not been ditched in the recession. The majority of respondents (57%) disagree that their company would care less about CSR because of the financial crisis. Supporting environmental sustainability is also still a mid-tier corporate concern, also according to a majority (46%) of those expressing a view.

However, most respondents (45%) say top managers set a bad example in the ‘greenness' of their travel choices. The worst offenders are in France and United States: 44% of respondents in France say their managers set a poor example (good example: 36%); bosses in the US are also slammed by 44% of respondents (supported by 39%). The UK has the most virtuous bosses, whose travel choices are approved of by 51% of UK respondents (although criticised by 41%).

ACTE President Richard Crum, said: "It is a great relief to see that Corporate Social Responsibility remains a strong priority for many corporations, and an equally strong concern for travellers, who are making an effort to reduce their impact on the planet.

"It is understandable that the last year has seen corporate leadership focus on the financial health of their companies. However, it is important to recognise that truly sustainable businesses balance the demands of shareholders with respect for the environment and the people and communities they impact every day."

Other findings include:
• The majority of respondents (61%) saw employers cut the amount of business travel undertaken in 2009.

• Frustrating hopes for quick economic recovery, almost three-quarters expect to travel only the same amount this year, or even less (51%: travel unchanged; 21%: fewer trips). This is partly offset by the 27% who expect to travel more.

• Around 19% say travel reductions resulted from CSR goals as well as cost-cutting objectives.

• A growing number of travel departments are believed to report to senior management on business travel carbon emissions: in this survey, only 55% said this was not the case, versus 61% the previous year.

Analysis note for this survey: During December 2009 and January 2010, the opinions of 317 business travellers and procurement and travel executives were gauged via an online poll.