Travel emissions and the reporting challenge: Why accurate data matters more than ever

Sustainability reporting is one of the biggest challenges facing organisations today. As regulations such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and ISSB standards raise expectations, businesses are under pressure to disclose accurate Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Yet for many, reporting feels overwhelming – especially when it comes to Scope 3 travel emissions.

“Pulling together the data for completion of a corporate’s Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions disclosure can be a daunting task,” says Pippa Ganderton, Director at ATPI Halo. “Like anything new, collecting emissions data from multiple sources, and vetting it for accuracy, can be time consuming.”

Why travel data makes reporting complex

Scope 3.6 (business travel) is often one of the largest elements of a corporate’s footprint. For professional services, it can dominate overall emissions, while in energy, mining and construction, operational travel remains unavoidable, even if not the largest of their emissions.

“For many ATPI clients, Scope 3.6 often represents a high volume of CO2e emissions,” explains Ganderton. “Visibility of travel-related emissions data is critical. It’s the first step towards making reductions – whether through modal shift from air to rail, supplier choice, or other measures.”

The pitfalls of poor-quality data

Fragmented reporting across multiple providers, inconsistent methodologies, and unmanaged programmes create major risks. Incomplete data not only weakens disclosure but may raise auditor scrutiny.

“When travel is split across providers, emissions reporting may not be consistent. Leakage via expenses or unmanaged programmes can result in significant emissions being missed – and if audited, that can lead to time-consuming queries,” notes Ganderton.

Why accuracy matters more than ever

With auditors and regulators increasingly scrutinising Scope 3, robust travel data is non-negotiable. Poor-quality data can undermine the credibility of an organisation’s entire sustainability report, while accurate data empowers Travel Managers to set realistic carbon budgets and defend strategy decisions.

“Good data, that is well analysed, can make the difference between having a carbon budget imposed or shaping one internally that works for the business,” says Ganderton.

Regulation is raising the bar

The regulatory horizon is accelerating the need for accurate travel emissions reporting. From CSRD to non-financial audits, corporates are expected to justify, reduce and, where unavoidable, compensate their emissions.

“Being ready is less costly than being unprepared,” Ganderton advises. “Corporates know that even if they’re not in the first wave of disclosures, they will be required to report at some point. Preparation is key.”

ATPI’s solution

ATPI has invested in partnerships and technology to ensure travel emissions data is accurate, consistent, and actionable. Through its collaboration with Thrust Carbon, ATPI delivers dynamic aviation methodologies and granular insights across rail, hotels, and more. ATPI Events extends this to cover event-specific categories such as venues, catering and waste.

“Since 2021 we’ve enabled clients to access Thrust Carbon’s calculation methodology embedded in ATPI Analytics worldwide,” says Ganderton. “For clients needing CSRD compliance, our tools provide a single source of truth and scenario modelling to support long-term strategy.”

Proof in practice

One ATPI client, with significant London–Paris travel flows, used accurate data insights to introduce a “rail-first” policy. As a result, Eurostar now accounts for over 80% of travel between the two cities – a clear example of how data-driven reporting translates into measurable emissions reduction.

Turning complexity into competitive advantage

Accurate travel emissions reporting reduces resource burden, supports compliance, and enables businesses to respond to growing sustainability demands in tenders. In an increasingly competitive landscape, this can be the differentiator.

“Easy-to-access, accurate data reduces manual work and allows organisations to respond quickly to client demands,” Ganderton explains. “Sustainability criteria are playing an ever-increasing role in tenders – and accurate reporting helps businesses stand out.”

Final advice

For businesses still struggling with reporting complexity, Ganderton’s advice is simple:

“Don’t allow complexity to put you off, and don’t strive for perfection from the start. It’s more important to get started, and to learn and improve as you progress – especially where a good TMC can support or guide you.”