Scope 3 (Category 3.7): what to measure and how to get started without stalling on employee commuting

Why Category 3.7 stalls so many companies

Category 3.7 (employee commuting) usually stalls for three reasons:

• it depends on behavior (not just on purchases/contracts)
• it can be scoped in different ways (who is included? which days? which sites?)
• it turns into a debate about methodology before it turns into execution

The strategy that works is simple: start with consistency and comparability, and get sophisticated later.

If your priority is defending the investment, start with the pillar article: ROI on Scope 3.7 (commuting): how to build a defensible case.

What to measure first (practical priority)

Think in layers. First, lock down scope and adoption. Refine impact afterwards.

Layer 1) Scope (what goes into your number)

Define and document:

• population (which employees)
• sites and countries (if applicable)
• window (which days / which period)
• eligibility (who is left out)

Without this, you lose comparability and the number becomes impossible to defend.

Layer 2) Adoption (does the program exist in practice?)

Before “cutting emissions”, prove execution:

• participation by site
• recurrence (how many weeks/months a person takes part)

Layer 3) Method (assumptions and consistency)

Define a method you can repeat cycle after cycle:

• documented assumptions
• data source
• calculation rule

Consistency > perfection at the start.

Layer 4) Environmental indicator (impact)

With scope and method in place, you can move forward:

• estimates of avoided emissions
• change in patterns (where applicable)

Baseline: how to define one without perfectionism

A useful baseline has 3 characteristics:

• it is simple enough to do right now
• it is documented (assumptions)
• it is comparable to the next cycle

Practical suggestion:

• pick a 4–8 week window
• lock in the assumptions
• run the first cycle

How to get started in 30 days (execution roadmap)

1. Choose an initial scope (one site, a cluster of sites or an eligible group).
2. Define the adoption indicator (participation + recurrence).
3. Document the method's assumptions.
4. Run a short cycle with light rituals (biweekly/monthly checkpoint).
5. Wrap up with evidence and lessons learned.

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• changing the scope mid-cycle
• trying to measure it perfectly and never running it
• failing to separate adoption (engagement) from the environmental indicator

For a checklist of calculation mistakes, see: 3 common mistakes when calculating employee commuting emissions (Scope 3.7).

FAQ (SEO)

What is Scope 3 Category 3.7?

It is the category related to employee commuting. The scope and the method need to be defined in order to produce a comparable and defensible number.

How do I start measuring commuting without stalling?

Start with scope + adoption (participation and recurrence). Then refine the method and the environmental indicator, keeping your assumptions documented.

What is the biggest risk when measuring Scope 3.7?

Losing comparability between cycles by changing the scope, the window or the rule without recording it. That undermines your internal case.

Read also (this collection)

• ROI on commuting (Scope 3.7): how to prove returns with evidence (pillar)
• 5 ways to boost sustainability engagement at your company
• 3 common mistakes when calculating employee commuting emissions (Scope 3.7)

Next step

If you want to start with Scope 3.7 with a consistent method and evidence that holds up in the internal debate, the next step is a quick assessment.

I want a 15-minute assessment