How can a company reduce its carbon footprint?

Reducing a carbon footprint means cutting greenhouse gas emissions associated with an activity, product, organisation or individual. To do so, first identify where emissions come from, then take measures to reduce them. 

For businesses, mobility can account for a significant share of that footprint, especially when many employees drive to work alone. Alongside energy use, processes and resources, sustainable mobility has become one of the ways companies can reduce their carbon footprint.

What is a carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a person, organisation, activity, product or service. They are usually expressed in kilograms or tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e), a unit that groups different greenhouse gases. 

For a business, sources of emissions can include: 

• Fuel consumption. 

• Electricity use. 

• Employee commuting. 

• Business travel. 

• Logistics and transport. 

• Company operations and processes. 

• Activities by suppliers and other parts of the value chain. 

Calculating a carbon footprint shows which activities generate the most emissions and where there is most scope to reduce them. A company can use this information to set targets and prioritise high-impact actions. 

Emissions classification: Scopes 1, 2 and 3 (GHG Protocol)

Under the GHG Protocol global standard and reporting directives such as the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), corporate emissions are divided into three scopes: 

• Scope 1 (direct emissions): From sources directly controlled by the company, such as fuel burned in office boilers or its own vehicle fleet. 

• Scope 2 (indirect energy emissions): Associated with purchased electricity, heating or cooling used by the company. 

• Scope 3 (other indirect emissions): Covers the value chain. This includes employees’ commutes to work (in itinere), business travel and supplier transport. 

This classification shows that reducing a company’s carbon footprint is not only about using less energy on its premises. It also means looking at activities outside them, including certain work-related journeys. 

How can a company reduce its carbon footprint? 

A company can reduce its footprint by taking action across different areas. Start with an assessment to identify the main emission sources and the measures with the greatest reduction potential. 

Common measures include: 

• Calculate the carbon footprint and establish a baseline. 

• Identify the sources with the greatest impact. 

• Reduce energy use and improve building efficiency. 

• Where feasible, procure or generate lower-emission energy. 

• Review employee travel. 

• Encourage public transport, cycling and walking. 

• Make carpooling easier for employees. 

• Optimise business travel. 

• Improve fleet management and efficiency. 

• Set reduction targets and measure results regularly. 

Measures do not all have the same impact or ease of implementation. Prioritise them using the organisation’s footprint data. 

Measures to reduce workplace travel emissions

Actual impact depends on factors such as distance, journey frequency, transport mode, vehicle type and how widely each measure is adopted.

What role does employee mobility play?

Employee journeys can be a significant source of emissions, particularly at businesses in areas heavily dependent on private cars. Understanding how staff get to work can reveal practical opportunities to reduce emissions. 

For instance, a company may find that many employees make similar journeys by car alone every day. In this case, offering alternatives such as public transport or car sharing may reduce the number of vehicles used for those commutes. 

The key is to move from general assumptions to data-led mobility management: understand how employees travel, how far and how often, and which alternatives are genuinely practical. 

The in itinere carbon footprint: why measure it?

The in itinere carbon footprint measures emissions from employees’ daily journeys between home and work. 

According to the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition (MITECO), private road transport accounts for a significant share of urban environmental impact. A company whose employees drive individually emits substantially more Scope 3 emissions than one with data-led sustainable mobility plans. 

To estimate this impact accurately, analyse variables such as: 

• Average distance travelled per employee. 

• Transport mode and vehicle technology (diesel, petrol, hybrid or electric). 

• How often employees attend in person. 

• Vehicle occupancy rate. 

How do you calculate employees’ commuting footprint? 

A simplified formula for calculating workplace travel emissions is: 

Emissions = distance travelled × number of journeys × emission factor 

Calculation steps: 

1. Collect workforce data: use surveys or automated mobility tools such as Waiis to record routes, frequency and transport modes. 

2. Apply official emission factors: use recognised databases (such as MITECO or DEFRA), adjusted per passenger-kilometre for vehicle occupancy. 

3. Aggregate and analyse: calculate total tonnes of CO₂e associated with Scope 3. 

Monitor regularly: continue measuring to verify emission reductions after measures are introduced.

How can carpooling reduce a carbon footprint?

Carpooling to work is one of the most effective, quick and cost-efficient ways to decarbonise corporate mobility. Increasing occupancy from 1.1 to 3 or 4 people per vehicle can directly cut emissions per journey by up to 75%. Corporate carpooling platforms such as Waiis support this through: 

• Smart matching: connecting employees with compatible routes and schedules. 

• Automated CO₂ calculations: real-time tracking of shared kilometres and emissions saved for sustainability reports. 

• Engagement and incentives: tools to encourage active employee participation. 

Regulatory framework: the Sustainable Mobility Act and businesses

Employee mobility is also gaining importance from a regulatory perspective. The Sustainable Mobility Act sets requirements for certain companies relating to mobility plans for commuting, with thresholds and obligations depending on the organisation. Emissions information may also form part of sustainability and reporting processes for certain businesses.

In this context, reliable data helps connect two needs: planning more sustainable employee travel and managing the company’s carbon footprint.

Checklist: an action plan to reduce company travel emissions

A company beginning to address emissions from employee journeys can follow these steps: 

• Step 1: Assess the starting point by analysing mobility habits. 

• Step 2: Calculate current Scope 3 emissions (in itinere). 

• Step 3: Implement a technology platform such as Waiis for businesses to enable employee carpooling. 

• Step 4: Create company incentives for carpooling or active travel. 

• Step 5: Include CO₂ savings in the sustainability / ESG report. 

• Step 6: Review and improve the mobility plan regularly. 

The goal is not to introduce every possible measure, but to identify those that make sense for the company and its workforce.

Want to reduce your company’s carbon footprint automatically? 

Find out how Waiis car sharing can help your organisation implement a Sustainable Mobility Plan, reduce Scope 3 emissions and verify CO₂ savings with real-time data.