Emissions-free Mission Days
At Fastned, travel is at the heart of what we do. We strive to help EV drivers get from point A to point B as sustainably and seamlessly as possible. And late last year, we saw an opportunity to take this even further—not just supporting our customers, but also helping our employees make greener choices when they travel
Say hello to Sustainable Travel Days
In January, we launched our new Sustainable Travel Days policy, as part of our broader mission days. Here's how it works: If a Fastned employee opts for a long-distance train or EV drive instead of a flight for a personal trip, they earn an extra vacation day. The idea behind it is simple: let's make the sustainable choice even more attractive, so it becomes a no-brainer.
Why this policy matters
Europe is blessed with a robust train network and ever-expanding EV charging infrastructure (including our very own high-speed stations). Yet, flying is the default choice for many people for travel within Europe. Flying is often cheaper than the alternatives (until you need to check a bag or two), and perceived travel times are lower. But the low-cost and convenience overshadow the catch: each flight is responsible for a huge amount of carbon emissions.
Let's put it in a light-hearted way; flying is like dumping out a new box of cereal just to grab the toy promised at the bottom. It’s a quick and easy solution, but it leaves behind a significant mess. In our analogy, cereal all over the floor. In real life, carbon emissions in the atmosphere that accelerate climate change.
The good news is we have better, greener options at our disposal. A 2020 report from the European Environmental Agency found that high-speed rail had 6 times less environmental costs compared to short-haul flights. If we just look at carbon emissions, the advantage of trains climbs to 90%+ less emissions.
The numbers speak for themselves: an alternative that is orders of magnitude better for the planet is an alternative worth pursuing.
The results so far
Since we launched this policy at the beginning of the year, the results have been encouraging. Dozens of employees have taken advantage of this benefit, and in doing so, they've passed on dozens of flights. The sustainable journeys have included trips from Amsterdam to Berlin, Rotterdam to Barcelona, and all the way to ski locations in the Alps-all while earning more vacation days!
The benefits go beyond just reducing emissions. Employees have shared stories about uncovering the joy of arriving in the heart of your destination by train. And others mentioned how the policy made it easier to make the choice they felt was right.
And perhaps best of all, this policy has contributed to an internal dialogue about how we can travel sustainably when the itch for a faraway place arises.
Looking Ahead
This is just the first iteration - as we gather more feedback and see more trips made, we plan to refine the policy to make it even more helpful for Fastned employees, and more impactful for the climate.
For now, though, one thing is clear: sometimes a nudge is all it takes to inspire a change: one sustainable trip at a time.
