ESG • Scope 3 • Thought leadership
By Audrey Hughes, Founder & CEO, Principle HR · January 2026
Sustainability lives in everyday behaviour
In recruitment, sustainability doesn’t live in a policy document. It lives in how people travel, how they work, and the everyday choices made on assignment.
At Principle HR, almost all of our carbon footprint sits in Scope 3 — driven by commuting, homeworking energy, business travel and the contractor workforce that supports our clients every day.
That’s the reality of our industry.
What matters is how you respond to it.
Meaningful reduction comes from influencing behaviour where we actually have control — not reporting after the fact.
Why contractors matter in Scope 3
Contractors work inside client teams for long periods of time. While they may not appear on payroll, the emissions linked to their work are very real for Scope 3 reporting.
Independent assessment using GHG Protocol methodology shows the average contractor footprint is just under one tonne of CO₂e per year.
That makes behavioural change practical — and effective.
What we do in practice
We don’t lecture. We don’t track individuals. And we don’t expect perfection.
Sustainability guidance at onboarding
Clear, optional guidance covering commuting, homeworking energy, waste reduction and everyday habits.
Lower-emission travel by default
Rail over flights, direct routes, economy class only and sustainability-certified accommodation.
Remote-first where it makes sense
Remote meetings, hybrid role design and smarter scheduling to reduce unnecessary journeys.
Ongoing influence, not one-off policies
Sustainability is reinforced throughout assignments — calmly and consistently.
Progress comes from repetition, not regulation.
What this means for our clients
- Reduced embedded Scope 3 emissions linked to contingent labour
- Stronger supply-chain sustainability credentials
- Support for ESG, CSRD and supplier assessments
- Evidence of real-world emission reduction through behaviour change
Our approach going forward
We are committed to reducing emissions year-on-year through actions we directly control — focusing on commuting, homeworking energy, travel and supplier choices.
This approach aligns with EcoVadis and wider ESG expectations, embedding sustainability into how recruitment actually works rather than treating it as a reporting exercise.
Progress doesn’t come from big claims. It comes from thousands of small, better choices — made together.
Want to talk Scope 3 in practice?
If you’re reviewing emissions linked to your contingent workforce, we’re happy to share how this works in reality.
Speak to us— Audrey