Remote Work For Sustainability: Can Working from Home Help the Planet?

In 2024 the conversation around remote work has increasingly shifted from productivity and work-life balance to environmental sustainability. We all remember the clear skies and clean air that the pandemic lockdowns brought to the world, but it wasn’t only office commuting which was on hold then. So how much difference does it really make, and is remote work the solution to the climate crisis?

With growing attention on the climate crisis, companies and policymakers in Europe are seeking strategies that align business practices with environmental goals. Research, including a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences now reveals the powerful impact that remote work can have in reducing carbon emissions.

Understanding the Environmental Benefits of Remote Work

The study by Cornell University and Microsoft shows that remote work can dramatically lower the carbon footprint associated with traditional office work. The key findings include:

1 day of remote work per week results in a 2% reduction in carbon emissions. While modest, this reflects the energy saved by eliminating one day of commuting, though it is partly offset by increased non-work travel.

2 to 4 days of remote work per week cuts emissions by 11% to 29%. This reduction comes from less reliance on transportation and partial reductions in office energy consumption.

Full-time remote work can reduce emissions by an impressive 54%, making it a clear choice for organizations aiming for sustainability. This significant cut is primarily driven by eliminating daily commutes and minimizing energy use in office buildings.

These numbers strongly suggest that the environmental benefits of remote work increase exponentially with greater adoption, particularly when transitioning to full-time remote setups.

Why Should European Companies Care About Sustainable Remote Work?

Europe is a global leader in climate action, with the European Union setting ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions and achieving net zero by 2050. However, reaching these targets requires collaboration from all sectors, including the corporate world. By embracing remote work, European businesses can actively contribute to these goals while also enhancing their sustainability credentials. At the same time, they’ll make themselves more attractive and competitive when it comes to recruiting and retaining top talent, which the Remote Work Europe communities demonstrate day after day is crying out for

In addition to reducing emissions, remote work supports other key environmental initiatives:

1. Less office space: Remote work allows companies to shrink their office footprints, reducing energy consumption for heating, cooling, and lighting. Shared office spaces or “hot-desking” for hybrid workers can further optimize energy efficiency. Downtown areas can revitalise and become vibrant living zones, instead of exclusively commercial real estate.

2. Support for renewable energy: When offices are consolidated or eliminated, it becomes easier for organizations to transition to smaller, energy-efficient workspaces powered by renewable sources. In some cases, employees working from home can use green energy providers, further aligning with sustainability goals.

3. Greener commuting: European cities are already leading the way in promoting public transportation, cycling, and walking. Encouraging hybrid models of work, where employees come into the office a few days a week, allows them to adopt greener commuting practices like carpooling or using electric vehicles. And if they don’t have to travel in at all, that’s even better!

Further, for those who prefer working in a local hub or coworking, these journeys are far more likely to be made on foot within a short distance, and frequently combine other errands (like daily food shopping for essentials) which might otherwise have triggered the need for a car journey or delivery service.

Remote Work is Not Without Sustainability Challenges

While remote work offers substantial sustainability benefits, it’s not a perfect solution. Remote workers tend to increase non-commute travel (e.g., grocery shopping, social activities), which can offset some of the emissions saved. Therefore, it’s essential to encourage sustainable lifestyle choices alongside remote work policies.

For instance, companies can incentivize the use of public transport or promote flexible work hours to reduce peak-time travel. Encouraging employees to adopt energy-efficient habits at home, such as using smart thermostats or solar panels, can also amplify the environmental impact.

Fully remote work presents the most substantial environmental benefit, with up to a 54% reduction in carbon emissions. This is largely because full-time remote workers eliminate daily commutes and significantly reduce the need for office energy consumption. However, this model isn’t suitable for every organization or every type of work, and hybrid models are more common.

In a hybrid work model, employees work from home two to four days a week, and emissions can still be reduced by up to 29%. However, hybrid workers often commute farther on office days since remote work enables them to live in more distant areas, which may increase individual transport-related emissions. As a result, the sustainability impact of hybrid work is more complex and less predictable than full-time remote work. Moreover, in-office energy usage persists for hybrid workers, although shared workspaces and desk-sharing policies can mitigate this by up to 28%.

The challenge here lies in finding the right balance. Hybrid work offers flexibility and reduces commuting emissions on remote days, but unless managed carefully, it can introduce inefficiencies. For example, if office spaces are maintained but underutilized on days when many workers are at home, the energy savings might be offset by wasted heating, cooling, and lighting.

Online Shopping: A Hidden Impact

Remote work is often accompanied by lifestyle changes, including an increase in online shopping, which can either benefit or detract from overall sustainability goals. There are two key factors to consider here:

1. Last-mile delivery: In theory, online shopping should reduce emissions by consolidating deliveries and making fewer trips to physical stores. However, this depends on efficient logistics. Rapid delivery services, increased returns, and fragmented deliveries often result in more vehicle trips and emissions, which negates some of the carbon savings from reduced commuting . Studies suggest that next-day or same-day shipping can significantly increase the carbon footprint, as it requires less efficient transportation methods like air freight or low-capacity delivery routes.

2. Reduced personal trips: On the other hand, well-managed online shopping, combined with batch deliveries, can reduce the need for personal trips to stores, especially in urban areas. This is where the true sustainability potential of online shopping lies. If consumers can adopt habits like selecting slower delivery options, planning orders in bulk, and reducing returns, the carbon impact can be minimized. As well as consolidating orders, using drop-off points like locker delivery also reduces carbon use - provided you go and pick up by bike or on foot, of course.

The challenge here is behavioural: remote workers need to adopt more sustainable practices both in their work and in their personal consumption. Encouraging companies to educate employees on the environmental impact of these choices—such as choosing energy-efficient home appliances, reducing unnecessary online purchases, or using green delivery options—could help amplify the benefits of remote work.

The Bottom Line: Mitigating Challenges for Sustainable Remote Work

While remote work offers significant sustainability potential, its full environmental impact depends on multiple factors beyond just the work arrangement. The hybrid work model presents an opportunity to balance flexibility and sustainability, but careful attention must be paid to commuting distances and office energy usage. Additionally, online shopping, which is often seen as a convenience for remote workers, must be managed responsibly to avoid undermining the carbon reductions achieved through fewer commutes.

Organizations and policymakers should consider strategies such as promoting public transport or carpooling on hybrid workdays, encouraging desk-sharing to minimize office energy waste, and supporting sustainable online shopping practices. Employers could also provide access to fractional car or micromobility services, like city bike rental. These efforts can help maximize the environmental benefits of remote work while minimizing unintended negative impacts, and also encourage their employees to get outdoors to take some exercise - increasing their physical and social wellbeing.

By addressing these challenges, remote work can play a pivotal role in reducing Europe’s carbon footprint, helping to meet climate goals without sacrificing productivity or flexibility. And remote workers in Europe can be part of a meaningful shift to sustainable location-independent practices which benefit the whole planet.