Social and Environmental Responsibility

The LBE is committed to a sustainable and responsible approach.

The LBE is committed to a Social and Environmental Responsibility (CSR) initiative in line with:

• The government’s ecological transformation plan for eco-responsible public services (Link)
• The Climate-Biodiversity and Ecological Transition Plan for Higher Education and Research of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (Link)
• INRAE’s CSR Action Plan (Link).

This initiative aims to reduce the environmental impact of research activities while contributing to a responsible, inclusive, and sustainable work environment.

Established in 2020 and integrated into the laboratory’s quality process, the CSR initiative is based on a collective, concrete, and evolving approach, closely aligned with national guidelines and on-the-ground realities.

A concrete, collective, and structured approach

Led by the two CSR coordinators, Maud Porte and Isabelle Pasquier, the initiative relies on the active participation of the collective. It is developed in a participatory manner through collaborative workshops that build on existing experience and practices.

The LBE Environmental Charter was co-developed through participatory workshops. It formalizes the laboratory’s commitments across six key areas:

Circular Economy Resource Efficiency Mobility Climate Digital Technology Biodiversity Quality of Life

Concrete Actions in Our Daily Work

Since 2020, numerous initiatives have been implemented to change practices and foster a culture of environmental responsibility through awareness-raising efforts, such as sending out emails and posting educational materials, as well as organizing collaborative workshops and themed seminars.

Circular economy

To minimize environmental impacts, the LBE encourages more sustainable practices in research projects: pooling purchases of consumables and chemicals, sharing and reusing equipment, and exploring ways to reduce plastic use... Waste sorting is implemented for all laboratory waste to improve recycling rates and ensure appropriate disposal [d1]

Resource conservation

Energy audits have identified specific areas for improvement that the CSR group is currently addressing: raising awareness of energy consumption in analyses, incorporating energy efficiency as a criterion for equipment purchases, and reviewing water usage…

Mobility

Employees are encouraged to adjust their travel habits (video conferencing, train travel, carpooling) and to prioritize sustainable transportation. Two bike racks and a repair station have been installed to encourage eco-friendly commuting.

Climate

The laboratory regularly conducts carbon assessments to identify the main sources of emissions and guide its actions. This data enables the laboratory to implement effective measures to reduce the environmental footprint of its operations.

Digital

The LBE is taking steps to minimize its digital footprint: reusing IT equipment, recycling end-of-life hardware, implementing responsible data management practices, and launching a “digital cleanup” campaign.

Biodiversity and the Living Environment

The eco-friendly management of green spaces is designed to preserve biodiversity and improve the work environment: no pesticides, late mowing, water conservation, mulching, and the preservation of local species (particularly orchids). These measures create an environment that is both more eco-friendly and more pleasant for employees.

Spotlight: ABioBE Project: Planning for Biodiversity and Well-Being

The ABioBE project, launched in 2021, demonstrates the laboratory’s commitment to biodiversity and quality of life at work.

Funded by a National INRAE Incubator Call for Projects (€25,000) (Link), this project aims to combine biodiversity conservation with improved quality of life at work by revitalizing the LBE site, which is located in a semi-natural environment and initially featured underdeveloped spaces and limited biodiversity.

 [d1] If we're talking about all waste generated both inside and outside the lab (paper, documents, etc.), then there's recycling and disposal  

A multi-year collaborative project

Designed through a participatory process, the project brought together LBE staff and several local partners. It resulted in the planting of 190 trees, the installation of birdhouses, and the creation of community spaces (a pergola, sports areas, and a community garden open to the public).

Early results are encouraging, with staff gradually adapting to the new facilities and promising outcomes in terms of biodiversity conservation. The project is the subject of an article in INRAE’s NOV’AE journal ( Link). 

A dynamic process of continuous improvement

LBE's CSR approach is designed as an evolving process, based on:

• staff involvement,
• testing concrete initiatives,
• regular evaluation of results.

This momentum is expected to grow in the coming years, in line with the 2026–2030 Unity Plan. It places sustainable development at the heart of the laboratory’s operations, based on a commitment to collective action and continuous improvement.