Coworking and organizational transportation emissions : Variables affecting transport modes of hybrid workers in Tampere University

Abstract

The global climate crisis and worsening population health are intensified considerably by the greenhouse gases and environmental pollution produced by the transportation industry and popular commuting practices. Recent crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed many workplaces to introduce remote working and hybrid models which have endured post-pandemic. Now, employees have more flexibility to choose their working days and location. Coworking spaces both private and public offer the opportunity to work in a shared office environment, often with shorter commute distances. This thesis investigates whether coworking spaces can help ameliorate the climate and health crises by analysing how they might facilitate an increase in active modes of transportation such as cycling or walking rather than motorized transportation. Understanding the opportunities presented by hybrid work, Tampere University has adapted to support coworking through the provision of access for staff to the Spacent service for booking coworking spaces in Finland and abroad. To measure the impact of this shift, data was collected via a survey distributed to coworking space users and Tampere University staff using the Spacent service. The data from 20 respondents was analysed using logistic regression to determine which variables produced higher odds of active transportation. The results found that all coworking spaces were closer to home than the employer’s office, and ultimately, that the reduced distances lead to higher odds of active transportation. When comparing commutes to offices and to coworking spaces, participants had 5.29 times higher odds of active transportation when commuting to the latter. The reduction in commute distances and modal shift resulted in an average emissions difference of 3 kg CO2e per coworking day. Adjusting for the findings that the average amount of days spent at a coworking space is 2.25 per week, the average participant saved 351 kg CO2e per year. These results show that by providing the Spacent service, Tampere University saves hundreds of kilograms of CO2e annually per hybrid working employee while replacing sedentary transportation with active transportation. These findings suggest that hybrid working organizations in support of sustainable urban development can reduce their transportation emissions and increase the physical and mental wellbeing of populations through access to coworking spaces at convenient locations.