# A French experiment to study how research labs address their environnemental transition. Focus on the GreenMaIAGE initiative

Sophie Schbath

► To cite this version:

Sophie Schbath. A French experiment to study how research labs address their environnemental transition. Focus on the GreenMaIAGE initiative. Journée du Doctoral Training Network Be-Light, Sorbonne Université & Prof. Matthew Chalk, Oct 2025, Paris, France. 15 p. hal-05485541

HAL Id: hal-05485541

https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05485541v1

Submitted on 30 Jan 2026

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License
INRAE
université
PARIS-SACLAY

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# A French experiment to study how research labs address their environnemental transition. Focus on the GreenMaiAGE initiative.

Sophie Schbath

DTN Be-Light, Paris, le 1er octobre 2025

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@INRAE_MaiAGE

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https://maiage.inrae.fr
> MaiAGE ID

**Fields:** applied mathematics, bioinformatics, computer science

**Applications:** Biology, agronomy, epidemiology, systems biology, microbial ecology, etc.

**Size:** about 70 persons with 45 permanents

**Location:** Jouy-en-Josas, Paris suburb

**Organization:** INRAE (French national research institute for agriculture, food & environment)

**Divisions:** Math&CS, Microbiology

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## Timeline of our transition

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GreenMalAGE

GHG report

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Expe-

1 point

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3-year survey

MalAGE-Expe-

1 point

2017

2020

2021

2022

2024

2025

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Informal discussions
about Sustainable
Development

Fertile ground to start
our transition

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Vote on an
action/commitment plan
to reduce our GHG
emissions by 40% in 2030
compared to 2019

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> Sommaire

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GreenMalAGE: how to do our research activities in a more environmentally responsible manner

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Expe-1point5: a French experiment to study how labs manage to reduce their GHG emissions

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The MalAGE case

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The network of labs in transition: Transition 1point5
> GreenMalAGE from 2017

**Starting point** = informal coffee break in February 2017 to think and propose eco-friendly actions in the labs, inspired from the ones many colleagues were doing at home.

Since then:

* Regular meetings “**GreenMalAGE**”: discussions, sharing infos, propositions of actions or purchases, serious games, etc.

* A dozen of participants, few active ones

* Short reports available on intranet

* GreenMalAGE has its place

* In meeting lab

* In each monthly newsletter

* On notice boards

* + A dedicated chat channel

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# Some actions 2017-2021

## Energy/natural resource saving

- LED bulbs

- Motion detectors (corridor/toilets)

- Automatic taps

- Rain water collector

## Purchases

- Select suppliers

- Printers replaced by few centralized copiers

- Computer servers moved into data center

- Keeping computers more than 5 years

- Second-hand supplies, etc.

## Waste sorting and reduction

- Paper, plastic bottles, cans, ...

- Batteries, bulbs, ...

- Coffee grounds, compost,

- Eco-cups instead of plastic cups,

- Donation of computer equipment, ...

## Sustainable mobility

- Teleworking

- 1st class train

- Bike shelter

## Organisation of events

- Choose « easy-to-go » location, no paper program, bring our own eco-cups, second-hand nametags, food, less packaging, waste sorting, ...

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INRAE

Be-Light, Paris

1er octobre 2025
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## GHG emissions 2019

* Excluding contrails

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GES-1point5
Mariette et al 2022
[10.1088/2634-4505/ac84a4](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S10.1088/2634-4505/ac84a4)

p. 7

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INRAE

Be-Light, Paris

1er octobre 2025
> GHG emission: order of magnitude

**Train (round trip):**

* Paris-Toulouse: 3.4 kg eCO₂

* Paris-Rennes: 1.4 kg eCO₂

**Plane (round trip):**

* Paris-Toulouse: 150 kg eCO₂

* Paris-Athens: 440 kg eCO₂

* Paris-Tokyo: 1560 kg eCO₂

**Home at 15 km
& 5 days x 40 weeks:**

* Car: 1450 kg eCO₂

* Bus: 840 kg eCO₂

* Subway: 30 kg eCO₂

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1 day of teleworking:
- 290 kg eCO₂/year if car

**Life-cycle assessment for products:**

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170 kg eCO₂

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280 kg eCO₂

Electricity: 1kWh <-> 52 g eCO₂

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Natural gaz: 1kWh <-> 240 g eCO₂

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# Expe-1point5: towards the adoption of a reduction scenario of our GHG

MalAGE = one of the 23 pilot laboratories

**Expe-1point5:** a unique national experiment (by Labos-1point5*) to facilitate and study the transition of research labs towards the reduction of their GHG emissions

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# Les différents dispositifs

Une palette d'outils +/- contraignants

## Outils de sensibilisation

### Outils financiers

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LA FRESQUE
DU CLIMAT

Vous avez toutes les cartes en main

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INVENTONS
NOS VIES
BAS CARBONE

LE JEU QUI VA VRAIMENT
CHANGER NOS VIES

DÉCOUVERTE DE LA FRESQUE DE
LA RENAISSANCE ÉCOLOGIQUE
Laure NOUALHAT, Julien DOSSIER

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## CHARTE VERTE

### Outils réglementaires

## Contrainte

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# Expe-1point5: MaiAGE process

A 10-months process (May 2021 -> March 2022):

1. « Do you support the overall approach of our lab to reducing it GHG emissions? »
   [75% YES]

2. Study of different proposed tools like charter, carbon tax, carbon quota, awareness activities, etc. (an explanatory note for each tools) and collective discussions

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3. Construction of scenarios

* 28 actions « Are you okay to... ? »
  (yes / yes if necessary / no)

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* 5 « nested » scenarios
  (from 0 to 50% reduction)

4. Adoption of scenario #3 « *A majority of staff want to significantly reduce the lab emissions, and many agree to change their practice to achieve this. The management is supporting this transition*» (March 2022, 78% participation).

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# Scenario #3: proactive commitment

## Awareness

- Poster/leaflet

- Serious games

- Webinars, talks

- Thermometer in office

- Charter with eco-friendly actions

## Transportation/travel

- Increasing teleworking

- Favoring remote events

- Using more public transportation/carpool for travelling in Paris region

- Using train to travel in France

- Reducing long-distance flights, especially group travels

## Energy

- Capability to reduce heating in office during absence

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- Self carbon tax on emissions due to energy consumption

- Optimize space allocation

- Voluntary flex office

## Computer equipment

- Keeping them longer

- Have less equipment per person

- Compute in moderation

- Rent additional ressources instead of buying new servers

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# More recent actions

Financial investments to reduce the energy used to heat the building:

* 2022: repair/change of the thermostatic valves for radiators (gaz)

* 2021-2023: new electronic system to control the temperature in each office

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* Purchase of thermometers and jackets/covers

* 2023-2025: installation of solar panels

Awareness:

* From 2022:

* 5 internal workshops (3h) of « La Fresque du Climat » (37 participants in the lab)

* One session of « Inventons nos vies bas carbone »

* From 2023: Digital Cleanup Challenge each year

* Annual GHG emission report from 2019

Sustainable mobility:

* Purchase of two electric bikes

* Production of cycling maps to go to Paris-Saclay University

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Carbon tax:
100€ per ton eqCO₂
(gaz/electricity)

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LA FRESQUE DU CLIMAT

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## Evolution of our GHG emission from 2019

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### Downward trend:

* Plane
  72 → 53 flights in 2024
  (14 → 4 if > 9500km)
  (24 → 4 FR metropole)

* Commuting

* +1 day TW/week

* More bike/walk p. 14

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# Transition 1point5: a network of labs in transition

A laboratory in transition is a laboratory that has undertaken a process of assessing and analysing the environmental footprint of its activities, with the aim of reducing it in the long term.

A network by and for research:

* To provide tools to the community to help it transform itself and produce new knowledge

* To favor exchanges between labs

* Laboratories help and inspire other labs

https://apps.labos1point5.org/transition-1point5

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On Sept 29, 2025:
314 published actions
80 laboratoires

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INRAE

Be-Light, Paris

1er octobre 2025

Le groupe Développement Durable (DD) du laboratoire a