The rebound effect in remote work: a nuanced view on sustainability

🌿 Environmental Impacts of Remote Working As remote and hybrid work become the new norm, research shows that their environmental effects are mixed ✅ Positive impacts: 🔸 Less commuting = fewer #emissions, reduced #traffic, and cleaner #air 🔸 Lower office energy use and potential for greener urban planning 🔸 Supports low-carbon transitions when paired with #digital tools and behavioral changes ⚠️ Negative impacts: 🔸 Higher home energy consumption for heating, cooling, and tech. 🔸 Increased use of materials for #home offices. 🔸 “Rebound effects” — more non-work trips and potential rise in #car ownership 🔎 Takeaway: While remote working has clear potential to reduce commuting emissions and support #decarbonization, its net environmental impact remains uncertain. Increased home energy use, rebound travel, and shifting of environmental responsibilities to individuals may partially or fully offset its benefits. More comprehensive, context-specific research is needed to determine its true sustainability outcomes 📖 These data have been taken from the deliverable 'Report on background knowledge to inform the empirical research' made by Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna / Leibniz-Institut für Raumbezogene Sozialforschung (IRS) / Paris School of Business / CoLABOR / European Creative Hubs Network and Politecnico di Milano for #REMAKING 🔗 You can find it here: https://lnkd.in/dbMdXxeR #HorizonEU #RemoteWork #FutureOfWork #HybridWork #WorkFromHome #DigitalNomad #FlexibleWork #Sustainability #RemoteWork #GreenEconomy #ClimateAction European Commission Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Elhuyar Trinity College Dublin Prague University of Economics and Business European Research Executive Agency (REA) Visionary Analytics R-Map project EU WinWin4WorkLife Leibniz-Institut für Raumbezogene Sozialforschung (IRS) Comune di Bologna

🌍 How Remote Work Helps Our Planet — Especially in the IT Sector 💻 As the IT industry continues to evolve, remote work has emerged not just as a productivity booster, but also as a quiet revolution for the environment. While we often discuss flexibility, work-life balance, and efficiency, the ecological benefits of working from home deserve equal attention. 🌱 Here are some ways remote work contributes to a greener planet: 1. 🚗 Reduced Carbon Emissions: With fewer daily commutes, we significantly cut down on vehicular pollution and fossil fuel consumption. Every skipped car ride counts towards cleaner air and a smaller carbon footprint. 2. 🏢 Lower Energy Consumption: Fewer employees in offices mean reduced electricity usage — less air conditioning, lighting, and server room cooling. IT companies can operate leaner data centers and smaller workspaces, saving substantial energy. 3. 🌳 Less Urban Congestion: Remote work reduces traffic density and eases the pressure on public transport systems. This indirectly lowers urban noise pollution and helps cities breathe easier. 4. ♻️ Digital Transformation Over Physical Waste: With teams collaborating digitally, we rely less on printed reports, paperwork, and physical resources. The IT sector’s embrace of cloud systems and digital communication minimizes material waste. 5. 🌦️ Sustainable Lifestyle Choices: Working remotely allows professionals to adopt eco-friendly habits — home gardening, using solar power, sustainable cooking, and reduced use of plastic — all while maintaining productivity. In essence, remote work in the IT industry is not just a modern way to work — it’s a sustainable one. 🌿 Let’s continue to innovate, code, and collaborate responsibly — for a smarter business and a healthier planet. 🌏💡 #Sustainability #RemoteWork #GreenIT #WorkFromHome #ClimateAction #DigitalTransformation

❔ Why should be care about Remote Work? 💡 In this episode of how remote work affects society, where members of the #REMAKING project consortium give their views on this topic, Ivana Lukes Rybanska (Prague University of Economics and Business) and Giulio Buciuni (Trinity College Dublin) share their views on how remote work is transforming the world of work 🌍 Ivana highlights that #remotework reflects a deeper shift in work relations and business models — shaping how we’ll work and live in the #future 🏙️ Giulio notes that while many return to the #office, the five-day office week is gone. The future is #hybrid — redefining how labor and #collaboration are organized 🚀 At #REMAKING, we explore how these changes affect society and what they mean for the future of work 🔗 You can watch more #videos like this one, and all those related to the #REMAKING project, on our YouTube channel https://lnkd.in/da5UEzBy #HorizonEU #FutureOfWork #RemoteWork #HybridWork #WorkCulture #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #Leadership #OrganizationalChange #HorizonEurope #REMAKINGProject #WorkTrends #EmployeeExperience #WorkplaceInnovation #Collaboration #WorkLifeBalance European Commission Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Elhuyar Trinity College Dublin Prague University of Economics and Business European Research Executive Agency (REA) Visionary Analytics WinWin4WorkLife Leibniz-Institut für Raumbezogene Sozialforschung (IRS) Comune di Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna EU Science, Research and Innovation European Creative Hubs Network Paris School of Business

💼 Embracing Flexible Work & Outdoor Productivity: The Power of Portable Energy Solutions Who says work can’t meet nature? Today, I’m soaking up the sunshine while staying fully connected—all thanks to a robust portable power station that keeps my laptop, phone, and even a kettle running seamlessly. This setup isn’t just about convenience; it’s a testament to how modern tech and energy solutions are redefining workspaces. Whether you’re a digital nomad, a remote team, or simply someone who loves blending productivity with the great outdoors, portable power is a game-changer. It’s about choice—choosing where, when, and how you work, without sacrificing functionality. What’s your take on hybrid work meets outdoor serenity? Have you ever tried a setup like this? Let’s chat about the future of flexible productivity! 🌳⚡ #RemoteWork #PortablePower #OutdoorProductivity #TechForGood #WorkLifeBalance

🌍 Exploring the Future of Remote Work in Europe 🗣️ Recently, Marco R. Di Tommaso, Coordinator of the #REMAKING project, presented the ongoing #research at our sister project's R-Map project EU consortium #meeting, sharing insights into how remote work is transforming individuals, businesses, and society 💡 Key #Highlights from the Presentation: 📖 Survey & Case Studies: Over 14,000 survey responses collected across Europe, plus multiple case studies examining post-pandemic work, digital nomads, integration, and student workers 📈 Remote Work Trends: Now common for ~20% of EU employees, adoption driven by employee preference and organizational capacity 🌿 Impacts: Flexibility, urban/regional geographies, job market fragmentation, socio-economic transformation 📚 Policy Implications: Need for tools supporting social inclusion, territorial balance, environmental sustainability, innovation, and economic growth #REMAKING #RemoteWork #FutureOfWork #DigitalNomads #SocioEconomicImpact #Policy #Research #Innovation #RMAP European Commission Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Elhuyar Trinity College Dublin Prague University of Economics and Business European Research Executive Agency (REA) Visionary Analytics WinWin4WorkLife Leibniz-Institut für Raumbezogene Sozialforschung (IRS) Comune di Bologna

FastCompany: Remote Work's Carbon Footprint Shrinks The remote work revolution is doing more than reshaping office culture. It’s quietly leading a massive shift toward environmental sustainability. FastCompany reports that companies embracing remote work see emissions drop. Tech giants like Microsoft, Zoom, and Google are leading by example. By cutting down on daily commuting and office energy use, Businesses are discovering the “green” side of digital transformation. Remote work has become an unexpected sustainability strategy. Every virtual meeting replaces miles of carbon-heavy travel. It’s proof that technology can create both economic and ecological wins. Corporate sustainability reports now include hybrid work metrics. The digital workplace is evolving into a climate-smart ecosystem. Less traffic, less pollution, and more balance for workers worldwide. Remote work isn’t just flexible—it’s environmentally responsible. This trend is likely to define corporate policies in the next decade. Tech-driven sustainability is shaping the new normal of work. FastCompany Microsoft Zoom Google SustainableTech #RemoteWork #CarbonNeutrality #GreenTech #FutureOfWork #Sustainability https://lnkd.in/dQPXtXDv

💡Hybrid work is here to stay. The real question is how to make it work for everyone.   Too much time at home, and people can start to feel disconnected.  Too much time in the office, and the flexibility we’ve come to value disappears.   📊 Recent research from Ghent University confirms what many of us already know.  The best results come from balance.  A healthy mix of home and office leads to happier teams, stronger connections, and better focus.   That’s where ‘Packs for Employees’ comes in.  It helps organisations make hybrid work simple and comfortable.   🏡 Your teams enjoy the same reliable and secure connectivity at home as they have at the office.  Everything’s managed through MyProximus, with installation, modem, and extra security included.    Yes, it’s also fiscally friendly.  However, for me, the real benefits are comfort, flexibility, and peace of mind for both employer and employee.   Because when people can do their best work from anywhere, everyone wins.   Curious how this could work for your teams? 👉 https://lnkd.in/eu-_6Wib #HybridWork #EmployeeExperience #Connectivity #PacksForEmployees #FlexWork

Science Confirms It — Working From Home Truly Makes Life Better. After observing remote workers for four years, researchers have reached a powerful conclusion: “Working from home makes us thrive.” When commutes disappeared and rigid routines loosened, something shifted — mornings became calmer, people had time to breathe, and productivity began flowing from a place of clarity rather than pressure. At 0101 DigitAll, we didn’t adapt to remote work — we were built on it. Since our start in 2022, we chose to operate as a remote-first company, not as a temporary experiment, but as a conscious culture decision. And today, what research proves is exactly what our team experiences daily: ✅ No rushing through traffic — time is invested in meaningful work, not travel ✅ Freedom to live in more comfortable and affordable locations ✅ No stress of high-rent city offices just to be “close to work” ✅ Flexibility to work at natural productivity peaks, not fixed hours ✅ Better well-being, sharper focus, happier teams    Remote work at 0101 DigitAll isn’t a policy — it’s our DNA. Because when people have freedom, they don’t just work… they thrive. #RemoteWorkCulture #WorkFromHomeLife #FutureOfWork #RemoteFirst #DigitalTeams #ProductivityUnlocked #FlexibleWork #ThrivingTeams #NoCommuteLife #RemoteWorkLifestyle #0101DigitAll #WorkWithoutLimits #FreedomToThrive #ModernWorkCulture #WorkFromAnywhere #team #0101team

🌍 Cross-Border Remote Work Flexibility in the EU As the nature of work evolves, the EU has a real opportunity to rethink how remote work interacts with tax and employment regulations across member states. Allowing employees to work remotely from another EU country for part of the year — close to their families and communities — could bring major social and economic benefits: ✅ Ease pressure on overcrowded cities like Dublin, where housing and infrastructure are stretched. ✅ Support regional economies, from local cafés and hotels to rural service industries. ✅ Improve wellbeing and family connection — key drivers of talent retention and productivity. A balanced framework could be introduced — for example, up to three months abroad followed by one month in the employer’s home country. This would maintain business ties while offering genuine flexibility. Naturally, this would require careful coordination around taxation, social contributions, and employment law. But the long-term rewards — both human and economic — could be significant. There’s growing research showing that hybrid and cross-border remote work are here to stay, with real implications for cities, housing, and taxation. See Eurofound, OECD, and McKinsey reports on telework adoption, worker preferences, and how hybrid work is reshaping urban economies. 📄 https://lnkd.in/epC25QMM? It’s time for a serious conversation about what a truly connected, flexible European workforce could look like. #RemoteWork #FutureOfWork #EuropeanUnion #CrossBorderWork #HybridWork #WorkLifeBalance #SmartCities #EUPolicy #SustainableGrowth

Remote Work Technology: A Sustainable Shift in Business Operations… In recent years, the business world has undergone a seismic shift, largely driven by advancements in remote work technology. Once considered an optional perk, remote work has become a necessity for many organisations, a transformation accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, what initially began as a response to the crisis has now evolved into a long-term, sustainable shift in business operations. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, companies are not just surviving but thriving in this new work environment, reaping benefits that extend beyond convenience and flexibility. Read More>> https://lnkd.in/dpHRPU8K #Business #article #blog #theleadersglobe #editorial #content #bestmagazine