According to the International Energy Agency, mobility still accounts for nearly 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2026. Shifting to green mobility within companies is no longer optional: it is a strategic lever for decarbonisation, operational performance, and HR attractiveness.
- Why green mobility has become a major economic and regulatory issue
- Real-world case: the Mecawatt example, an industrial mid-sized company in Marseille
- New transition levers since 2024: regulation, taxation, innovation
- Measuring carbon and social performance of mobility
- Integrating a sustainable corporate card: Greenway vs other solutions
- Mini-FAQ: 5 questions we are often asked
Why green mobility has become a major economic and regulatory issue
Since 2024, European regulation has tightened: the CSRD requires more than 50,000 companies to incorporate the carbon impact of their business travel into non-financial reporting. At the same time, fuel prices, the energy transition, and talent expectations are transforming mobility into a strategic lever.
Carbon pressure and mandatory reporting
Companies must publish a trajectory aligned with 2050 carbon neutrality objectives. The "mobility" component is now tracked in GHG inventories and ESG reports. It covers commuting, business trips, and deliveries. Without a credible action plan, certain public subsidies become inaccessible.
Rising costs of fossil-fuel mobility
Between 2020 and 2026, the total cost of ownership for a combustion-engine vehicle rose by nearly 35%. Beyond fuel, maintenance, insurance, and Low Emission Zones (LEZ) are all pushing travel costs higher. Green mobility is therefore becoming a tool for managing operational budgets.
A company with 250 employees emits on average 480 tonnes of CO₂ per year from business travel. Cutting that total in half by 2030 is achievable through an electric fleet and a balanced remote-working policy.
Real-world case: the Mecawatt example, an industrial mid-sized company in Marseille
Mecawatt, a 380-employee company based in Marseille specialising in industrial maintenance, illustrates the gradual transition to green mobility. In 2022, 90% of commercial trips were still made with diesel vehicles.
Phase 1 (2022–2023): diagnosis and action plan
The company commissioned a carbon audit covering commuting trips. Result: 640 tonnes CO₂ eq. attributed to mobility. Recommendations focused on electrification, the creation of a Park & Ride scheme, and the introduction of a cycling allowance.
Phase 2 (2024–2025): deployment
Mecawatt installed twelve 22 kW charging points in its car park and signed a partnership with a local carpooling operator. At the same time, the CFO adopted a multi-use corporate card to centralise mobility-related expenses and track ESG reporting in real time.
Stackable public subsidies vary by region. Amounts and caps must be verified each year. The ADEME 2026 catalogue lists up-to-date schemes for electric fleets and the Sustainable Mobility Benefit (SMB).
New transition levers since 2024: regulation, taxation, innovation
Between CSRD obligations, tax incentives, and digital innovations, finance teams must combine compliance with economic efficiency.
| Lever | Measure or development 2024–2026 | Impact for the company |
|---|---|---|
| CSRD / EU Taxonomy | Extension of non-financial reporting to mid-sized companies with more than 250 employees | Requires precise mobility indicators |
| SMB (Sustainable Mobility Benefit) | Tax exemption up to €800 under conditions (to be verified annually) | Soft mobility and enhanced HR attractiveness |
| Vehicle tax & bonus-malus | Partial exemption for vehicles below 50 g CO₂/km | Reduction in total cost of ownership |
| Software innovation | Applications integrating real-time carbon management | Strategic decision support |
Green taxation: an underused HR lever
The ancillary benefits of a sustainable mobility policy go beyond ecological reporting: employee retention, reduced absenteeism, and attractiveness for young talent. In 2025, the ADEME-Bain barometer indicated that 68% of executives prefer employers who embed sustainability in professional travel.
Innovation: electrification and corporate MaaS
New "Mobility as a Service" (MaaS) platforms now allow users to book, pay for, and track sustainable transport with a single click: trains, car-sharing, bike schemes, or charging stations. Connected fleets automatically transmit CO₂ data, simplifying CSRD reporting.
Measuring carbon and social performance of mobility
From 2025 onwards, ignoring the data is no longer an option: every executive must manage mobility as a cost and impact centre. Three priorities stand out: measuring the footprint, governing the programme, and communicating internally.
1. Measure
Using integrated analytics tools (ADEME API, Well-to-Wheel calculations), it becomes possible to assign a carbon footprint to each business trip. These metrics feed monthly ESG dashboards and CSRD reports.
2. Govern
Set up a sustainable mobility committee: HR, Finance, ESG, and employee representatives jointly define the internal policy (allowances, SMB, fleet, remote working). The challenge is reconciling regulatory compliance with company culture.
3. Communicate
Making results visible creates a ripple effect. A comparative table published on the intranet or via an internal newsletter reinforces collective pride.
At Mecawatt, carbon footprint per employee fell by 22% in one year. This result was incorporated into the performance bonus. The company also uses fuel savings to fund an e-bike programme.
Integrating a sustainable corporate card: Greenway vs other solutions
To manage the complexity of green mobility expenses, new solutions are emerging. An impact-driven corporate card makes it possible to manage purchases, allowances, and reimbursements while meeting environmental criteria.
Market overview 2026
| Solution | Positioning | Key strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Swile | Employee benefits and catering | Engaging interface, social use cases |
| Edenred Pro | Corporate expense card + mobility vouchers | Solid European infrastructure |
| Greenway Care | All-in-one impact corporate card | Multi-accounts (travel, SMB, expenses), integrated ESG reporting, 1%ForAll® programme |
Greenway centralises mobility expenses and feeds sustainability reporting. Its dashboards measure the green share of transactions and the breakdown by use case: electric vehicles, public transport, cycling, remote working. The CFO therefore has reliable indicators for CSRD management and budget control.
Location and spending data must remain GDPR-compliant: check the data retention and anonymisation policies offered by each card issuer.
Mini-FAQ: 5 questions we are often asked
How do I calculate emissions from business travel?
Use ADEME emission factors. For example, 0.119 kg CO₂/km for an electric vehicle (to be verified according to electricity source). Greenway applications and other tools automatically scan transactions to generate a mobility carbon report.
What is the current cap for the Sustainable Mobility Benefit?
In 2026, it remains set at around €800 per year per employee (exemptions stackable with public transport reimbursement, subject to conditions). Rules may change, so it is advisable to check the Official Gazette each year.
Is green mobility profitable for a mid-sized company?
Yes, in the medium term: lower total cost of ownership, reduced exposure to carbon taxes, and a stronger employer brand. Return on investment depends, however, on fleet structure and regional subsidies.
What are the key indicators to track in a CSRD report?
Modal share, emissions per employee, kilometres avoided through digital solutions, fleet electrification rate, and budget allocated to soft mobility. The Greenway card automates the collection of these variables.
What should I do if my transport suppliers do not provide carbon data?
Rely on default national emission factors or require their integration via an ESG clause in contracts. Some MaaS operators now allow automatic interfacing of CO₂ reports.
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