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In global mobility, sustainability has quickly moved from a “nice-to-have” to a business-critical priority. But making relocation more sustainable isn’t always straightforward. Leaders in mobility, HR, and talent management often ask the same core questions when trying to balance sustainability, efficiency, and employee wellbeing.
The good news? Relocation presents a unique opportunity for change. When people move, routines are disrupted, and new habits are formed. If guided well, relocation can become a natural trigger for more sustainable living – benefiting assignees, organizations, and the planet.
Over the past few months, we’ve had countless conversations with HR teams and Relocation Management Companies (RMCs) about sustainability in global mobility. These meetings are always a two-way street: We share insights from our work at ExpatRide, while also learning from the challenges and priorities others are facing.
Below we address the five most common questions we get about sustainability in global mobility.
Relocating is overwhelming. If green choices feel like extra research, most assignees will default to old habits.
The fix? Reduce choice overload:
It’s also important to note that lump-sum policies are a barrier to sustainability. If employers hand over a lump sum and leave employees to figure it out, the result is often short-term, unsustainable decisions. Active guidance is far more effective.
But what if we don’t want to mandate those choices?
That’s a common concern. and it leads directly to Question 2.
Many companies already mandate choices in many areas – for example business travel. Setting green defaults removes complexity while guiding better outcomes.
However, mandating isn’t the only way to influence behavior. You can make sustainable decisions the easy, attractive, and default choice without removing flexibility:
This is a common myth. In reality, many sustainable decisions save money; for example, two of the biggest expenses during a relocation are transportation and housing. Making these choices more sustainable can reduce expenses:
Other good examples include reducing waste, sourcing locally, and optimizing business travel choices. Lower consumption will almost always lower costs.
Think of it as: “Sustainable choices consume less.”
The key is to challenge the “it’s too expensive” narrative and instead see how sustainability is good for the planet and greater for the budget.
Without data, it’s hard to prove value or track progress.
The good news? Many relocation activities already generate measurable metrics you can tap into:
Relocation will always have an environmental footprint, but that doesn’t mean we can’t significantly reduce it. The key is to take a holistic view, shifting the focus from the initial move to the entire assignment lifecycle.
The articles below are a great starting point: you’ll discover how, in the right circumstances, relocating people can be more sustainable than not relocating at all; and how why lump-sum policies can be an obstacle to this; as well as how relocation can be a powerful driver for lasting sustainable change.
🔗 To Relocate or Not to Relocate?
🔗 Lump-Sum Policies are Failing Sustainability
🔗 The Relocation Event as a Trigger for Sustainable Change
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