Scope 3.7 - Commuting

Why Scope 3.7 “Employee Commuting” Matters


Scope 3.7 zooms in on the daily journeys employees make between their homes and worksites

Scope 3.7 is one of the most overlooked but collectively significant categories in the GHG inventory, especially for office-based and service organizations.

What’s Included in Scope 3.7?

  • All employee travel to regular workplaces (offices, factories, facilities), regardless of who pays for the transport.
  • Includes all modes: private car, carpool, train, public transport, bike, walking, motorcycle, etc.

Key Principle: Every employee journey to a site you control—regardless of how or who pays—counts here.

Typical data points to collect:

  • Number of employees at each location
  • Average distance commuted (one-way)
  • Common transport modes: (car, bike, train, bus, etc.)
  • Estimated frequency: (average commuting days per week/year; e.g., factoring in remote work)
  • Car occupancy rates/class: (if known—solo, carpool, etc.)

Understanding Data Quality in Scope 3.7 and Why Continuous Improvement Matters

Commuting should be estimated based on actual data, staff mobility surveys, or HR records—rather than rough guesses. Start with simple averages, then improve by running an annual (anonymous) survey to capture modes, distances, and days worked on site. As your program matures, target a higher response rate, updated transport mode splits, and integrate with HR’s onboarding/offboarding for real-time data.

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Data Collection Steps: A Collaborative Approach

  1. Estimate Workforce Mobility
    • Compile the number of office/factory-based employees and typical working schedule.
  2. Survey or Estimate Commute Patterns
    • Distribute a short staff survey: capture home-to-work distances, primary mode(s) of transport, days in office/site per week.
  3. Calculate Aggregates
    • Average the results for total distances by mode, multiplied by number of employees and working days.
  4. Track and Improve
    • Update the survey regularly (e.g., annually), and encourage new joiners to share commute info as part of HR onboarding.
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