What is the difference between the different travel types?

There are 4 different “travel type” options available within the Thrust Calculator which can be applied to the uploaded data either via single and bulk uploads or API integrations. These different travel types are; Business travel, Employee commuting, Event/meeting staff and Event/meeting attendee.

These different travel types are purely included within the Thrust Calculator for the purpose of allowing you to separate out different scope categories in line with the GHG protocol.

The below bullet points are how Thrust Carbon advises you to interpret the travel types. However these are just recommendations and ultimately you can apply these travel types however you wish.

• Business travel: Any travel taken by an employee of the reporting company such as for a meeting. This falls under Scope 3 category 6 of the GHG protocol.

• Employee Commuting: Travel taken by an employee from their home to their place of work. Scope 3 category 7. 

• Meeting/events staff: Travel taken to an event by contractors used for the event. Scope 3 Category 9.

• Meeting/events attendee: Travel taken to an event by an attendee (someone not on the payroll of the company reporting). Scope 3 Category 9.

Note: Anyone who is on the payroll for the reporting company who are travelling to the event would fall under business travel.

Note: The interpretation of the travel types will depend on who is doing the reporting. For example, "Business travel" would not be the right travel type if the traveller is not an employee of the reporting company.