The return to the office and the end of remote work: how to cut emissions when daily commuting goes up

The return to the office changes the game (and the number)

When people go back to the office, two things happen at the same time:

• commuting volume goes up
• the commuting pattern changes (days, times, routes)

For sustainability teams, this usually affects what can be defended under Scope 3 and, in many cases, under Category 3.7 (commuting).

The risk here is trying to “compare” different periods without adjusting the scope of measurement and the baseline — and then the metric loses credibility.

To build the investment case (ROI + evidence), use the pillar article: How to prove ROI in commuting (Scope 3.7) in the context of the return to the office.

1) Rebuild the baseline on purpose

If the context has changed, your previous baseline may no longer be useful.

Good practices:

• set a short window (4–8 weeks)
• record your assumptions (days in the office, population covered, sites)
• treat major changes as a “new historical series”

For a step-by-step guide on what to measure, see: Scope 3 (Category 3.7): what to measure and how to get started without stalling.

2) Clearly separate adoption from the environmental metric

With more commuting, teams tend to mix up “participation” and “impact”.

Structure it in two layers:

• Adoption: participation and recurrence
• Result: the environmental metric (consistent method)

If you want a checklist of the usual pitfalls, read: 3 common mistakes in calculating employee commuting emissions (Scope 3.7).

3) Adjust the scope of measurement to what you can actually operate

In a large company, you cannot measure everything at once when the context changes.

Our suggestion:

• start with the sites with the highest return to the office
• run a short cycle
• consolidate the evidence
• expand while keeping comparability

4) Treat commuting as a program, not as a campaign

With people back in the office, commuting becomes a daily routine. The program needs to have:

• rituals (checkpoints)
• visibility by site
• consistent rules

On engagement, see: How to engage employees on sustainability without sounding like Captain Planet.

FAQ (SEO)

Does the return to the office increase commuting emissions?

In general, it increases commuting volume and changes the pattern. To compare periods, you need to adjust the baseline and the scope of measurement.

How do I keep comparability in Scope 3.7 when the context changes?

Document the changes, treat them as a new historical series when needed, and run short cycles with recorded assumptions.

What should come first: measuring everything or starting with a narrower scope?

Start with a scope you can actually operate, close out the evidence and expand with consistency.

Read also (this series)

• ROI in commuting (Scope 3.7): how to sustain the internal business case (pillar)
• Scope 3 (Category 3.7): what to measure and how to get started without stalling
• 3 common mistakes in calculating employee commuting emissions (Scope 3.7)

Next step

If your company is returning to the office and you need to redefine the baseline and the method for Scope 3.7 without losing credibility (and still connect it to ROI), the next step is a quick assessment.

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