From commuting data to workplace advantage in life sciences
New guidance from Mobilityways shows how commuting data can inform workplace decisions across experience, infrastructure and sustainability in life sciences organisations
In life sciences, how employees get to work directly shapes how sites function. Complex campuses, shift-based work and strict regulatory environments mean commuting influences everything from access and scheduling to long-term estate planning.
Yet many organisations still lack visibility into how their workforce actually travels. As a result, decisions around hybrid working, site access and infrastructure investment are often made with only partial insight.
Mobilityways’ Beyond the Lab guidance argues that commuting data can close this gap. With the right tools, organisations can build a clearer picture of travel patterns – creating a stronger foundation for workplace, transport and real estate decisions. This reframes commuting from a peripheral sustainability metric to a core operational input.
Extending the workplace beyond the building
Commuting data has implications across the workplace stack. It can inform estate planning by reducing parking demand and releasing land for higher-value uses. It supports workplace experience by aligning shifts, transport options and on-site services. It also strengthens location strategy, enabling more informed site selection based on accessibility and talent reach.
What emerges is a broader shift: workplace technology is no longer limited to what happens inside the building, but increasingly shaped by how people move to and from it.
Commuting and the ESG gap
Commuting is also becoming harder to ignore within sustainability strategies. In life sciences, Scope 3 emissions can account for up to 90% of total carbon output, with employee travel forming a significant share.
Despite this, measurement remains inconsistent. Organisations such as GSK, AstraZeneca and Novartis are beginning to track commuting emissions, signalling a move towards greater accountability.
At the same time, regulatory pressure is increasing – from the EU’s CSRD to evolving NHS supplier requirements in the UK. Without a clear view of commuting impact, organisations risk both compliance challenges and missed opportunities to reduce emissions.
Download the full Beyond the Lab guide to explore the data, benchmarks and strategies shaping commuting in life sciences.
