Tools for increased sustainable travel are tested in Lund
Trivecteur Trafic are experts in developing transport solutions for a sustainable future. Together with Lund-based AI experts Backtick Technologies they have now developed Travalytics. The tool is designed to collect data that can provide insights to facilitate companies' work with sustainability reporting and can ultimately reduce their sustainability footprint. Among other things, the launch is aimed at helping companies meet the new requirements imposed by the EU Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Larger companies will have to apply the new rules for the first time in fiscal year 2024 and make reports that are published in 2025.
- The new EU directive places a very clear responsibility on the employer for commuting trips, says Anna Stankovski Clark, Trivector and project manager for Travalytics. CSRD is a gamechanger when it comes to sustainability data.
Trivector has been working on travel surveys for a long time and a few years ago came TravelVu, an app that helps users keep track of their trips. The new tool Travalytics has taken inspiration from TravelVu but is much more automated.
- The idea is that you as an employee should not need more than a few minutes to get started. One downloads the app, provides some background information and then everything is ready. The measurement lasts for one to two weeks and the user does not have to interact with the app in the meantime.
Travalytics uses advanced technology to collect data.
- We use algorithms to automatically identify how people travel and then calculate the environmental and health impacts of the trips, says Michal Stypa, technology and design leader for Travalytics. Next, we offer an analysis that enables companies to implement targeted actions to reduce their carbon footprint and promote sustainable commuting habits.
When the app was created, the privacy issue was also important.
- We just need to know which company the mobile belongs to, and are not interested in the individual, continues Michal Stypa. The employer always receives the results in aggregate form. This is partly to protect the integrity of employees and partly to prevent the employer from judging individual employees for possible bad habits.
In the CoAction Lund project, companies, authorities and organisations in Lund are working on climate improvements in the energy and mobility areas. Employers are supposed to be involved in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the municipality and this is entirely in line with testing the new tool for measuring commuting journeys. Trivector is responsible for the part of the project called Green Itinerary, and that's where Travalytics fits in. During October, four companies or organizations of different sizes will be allowed to test the tool.
After data collection, companies can draw conclusions from statistical data. From experience, Trivector knows which journeys it is easiest to change.
- Car journeys under five kilometres are the most likely to be replaced by cycling, while at a slightly longer distance it is public transport that you can work with as an alternative, says Anna Stankovski Clark. If a geographical similarity is found in the way employees commute to work, the possibility of new or additional trips using public transport can also be explored.
In addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the health aspect is important. Data on cycling and walking journeys and how they are combined with public transport can provide measures that result in positive health effects for companies' employees. Such measures could include increasing the number of bike parking lots or showers.
- We can talk to the customer about what kind of analysis they need, says Michal Stypa. We can count on carbon emissions but also health effects. Based on the collected data, we can suggest changes and expected effect. Collected data and reports are designed in a way that makes it easy for customers to integrate with other sustainability reporting.
Collected data and reports are designed to be easily integrated into business sustainability reporting.
- It is possible to recalculate physical activity through walking and cycling in economic terms, for example in reduced sick days, concludes Anna Stankovski Clark. Health effects are positive factors that are also included in a sustainability report.
Travalytics is developed in collaboration between two Lunda companies, Trivector Traffic and Backtick Technologies. The development has received funding from EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), and Vinnova through the strategic innovation programme Drive Sweden.
About Trivector Traffic
Trivector develops efficient, inclusive and sustainable transport systems through consultancy and research. The company has experts in travel surveys and sustainable corporate travel.
Visits Trivecteur
About Backtick Technologies
Software development experts who help companies succeed on projects involving data, algorithms and machine learning.
About the new CSRD Directive
On 5 January 2023, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) entered into force. It modernises and strengthens the rules on the social and environmental information that companies must report. A wider group of large companies, as well as listed SMEs, will now be required to report on sustainability. CSRD raises the requirements for sustainability reporting by equating it with financial reporting. Similar legislation is on the way for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).