According to the International Energy Agency, mobility still makes up nearly 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2026. For companies, the move to green mobility is no longer optional. It is a strategic lever for three things: lower carbon, better operations, and a stronger appeal to staff.
- 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
European rules have become stricter since 2024. The CSRD requires more than 50,000 companies to include the carbon impact of their business travel in their non-financial reporting. At the same time, fuel prices, the energy transition, and what staff and candidates expect are turning mobility into a strategic lever.
Carbon pressure and mandatory reporting
Companies must publish a path in line with the 2050 carbon neutrality goals. The "mobility" part is now tracked in GHG inventories and ESG reports. It covers commuting, business trips, and deliveries. Without a credible action plan, some public subsidies are out of reach.
Rising costs of fossil-fuel mobility
Between 2020 and 2026, the total cost of ownership of a combustion-engine vehicle rose by nearly 35%. Fuel is not the only cause. Maintenance, insurance, and Low Emission Zones (LEZ) all push travel costs up. Green mobility is becoming a tool to manage operating budgets.
A company with 250 employees emits on average 480 tonnes of CO₂ per year from business travel. It can cut that total in half by 2030 with an electric fleet and a balanced remote-working policy.
Real-world case: the Mecawatt example, an industrial mid-sized company in Marseille
Mecawatt is a 380-employee company in Marseille that specialises in industrial maintenance. Its case shows a step-by-step move to green mobility. In 2022, 90% of its commercial trips were still made in diesel vehicles.
Phase 1 (2022–2023): diagnosis and action plan
The company ordered a carbon audit of commuting trips. Result: 640 tonnes CO₂ eq. came from mobility. The audit recommended moving to electric vehicles, creating a Park & Ride scheme, and starting a cycling allowance.
Phase 2 (2024–2025): deployment
Mecawatt installed twelve 22 kW charging points in its car park. It also signed a partnership with a local carpooling operator. At the same time, the CFO adopted a multi-use corporate card. The card brings all mobility expenses into one place and tracks ESG reporting in real time.
Public subsidies that can be combined vary by region. Check amounts and caps each year. The ADEME 2026 catalogue lists current schemes for electric fleets and the Sustainable Mobility Benefit (SMB).
New transition levers since 2024: regulation, taxation, innovation
Finance teams face CSRD obligations, tax incentives, and new digital tools. They must stay compliant while keeping costs under control.
| 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
A sustainable mobility policy brings side benefits that go beyond green reporting. It helps keep employees, cuts absenteeism, and attracts young talent. In 2025, the ADEME-Bain barometer found that 68% of executives prefer employers who build sustainability into business travel.
Innovation: electrification and corporate MaaS
New "Mobility as a Service" (MaaS) platforms let employees book, pay for, and track sustainable transport in one click. This covers trains, car-sharing, bike schemes, and charging stations. Connected fleets send CO₂ data automatically, which makes CSRD reporting simpler.
Measuring carbon and social performance of mobility
From 2025, ignoring the data is no longer an option. Every executive must manage mobility as a cost and impact centre. Three priorities stand out: measure the footprint, govern the programme, and communicate internally.
1. Measure
Built-in analytics tools (ADEME API, Well-to-Wheel calculations) can 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 define the internal policy together (allowances, SMB, fleet, remote working). The challenge is to meet the rules while respecting company culture.
3. Communicate
Visible results create a ripple effect. A comparison table on the intranet or in an internal newsletter builds shared pride.
At Mecawatt, the carbon footprint per employee fell by 22% in one year. This result became part of the performance bonus. The company also uses fuel savings to fund an e-bike programme.
Integrating a sustainable corporate card: Greenway vs other solutions
Green mobility expenses are complex to manage, and new solutions are appearing. An impact-driven corporate card handles 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 brings mobility expenses into one place and feeds sustainability reporting. Its dashboards show the green share of transactions. They also break spending down by use case: electric vehicles, public transport, cycling, remote working. The CFO gets reliable indicators for CSRD management and budget control.
Location and spending data must stay GDPR-compliant. Check each card issuer's data retention and anonymisation policies.
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 (check it against the electricity source). Greenway apps and other tools scan transactions automatically to produce a mobility carbon report.
What is the current cap for the Sustainable Mobility Benefit?
In 2026, it stays at around €800 per year per employee. Under certain conditions, the exemption can be combined with public transport reimbursement. Rules may change, so check the Official Gazette each year.
Is green mobility profitable for a mid-sized company?
Yes, in the medium term. It brings a lower total cost of ownership, less exposure to carbon taxes, and a stronger employer brand. However, the return on investment depends 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 tools, fleet electrification rate, and budget set aside for soft mobility. The Greenway card collects this data automatically.
What should I do if my transport suppliers do not provide carbon data?
Use the default national emission factors. You can also make carbon data a requirement through an ESG clause in their contracts. Some MaaS operators now connect their CO₂ reports to your systems automatically.
Take control of your company's sustainable mobility
See how the Greenway card can bring your green mobility spending into one place. It also simplifies ESG reporting and involves your employees in cutting carbon.
Book a demoGo further — Manage your mobility and ESG with an all-in-one solution
