Environmental transition

Passing on a Living Heritage and a Sustainable Institution

Since 2015, the Paris Opera has been committed to carrying out studies and long-term investment projects to ensure a lasting reduction in its energy consumption. Today, the institution continues its efforts toward ecological transition, in collaboration with other players in the lyrical and choreographic arts, aiming to reduce its environmental impact while maintaining its artistic ambition and excellence.

By the numbers

Nearly 300 employees have participated in training sessions and awareness workshops on environmental issues specific to live performance since 2023*
52% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the 2023 carbon footprint are linked to audience travel (visitors and spectators)
16% reduction in electricity consumption between September 2023 and April 2024
32% reduction in heating consumption between September 2023 and April 2024
Energy savings of 14.8% at the Opéra Bastille and 10.5% at the Palais Garnier in 2024 alone, as part of the French Energy Savings Championship (CUBE ÉTAT)

^{*Figures include data recorded in 2023, 2024, and during the first half of 2025.}

Recent developments

To guide the 2025–2027 ecological transition plan, the Paris Opera conducted its second carbon footprint assessment in 2024, based on 2023 data. The institution also used the Environmental Footprint Simulation for Performing Arts (SEEDS) tool, developed by the ARVIVA association, to measure the impact of the Ballet’s touring activities in 2024.
The Opera continues its energy-saving initiatives. Notably, in 2024, both theatres participated in the French Energy Savings Championship (CUBE ÉTAT).
Since 2019, the Paris Opera has been a member of the 17h25 Collective, which brings together five lyrical institutions (the Aix-en-Provence Festival, the Lyon Opera, the Royal Theatre of La Monnaie in Brussels, the Théâtre du Châtelet, and the Paris Opera). The collective leads an ambitious set eco-design project, winner of the first “Green Alternatives” call for projects under the France 2030 plan. The project aims to create a common base of standard structures compatible with the hosting requirements of the different partners as well as a wide range of productions. The prototyping phase of these standard structures ran until April 2024, and the five institutions have now entered the production phase to test the integration of the structures into their sets. The project is scheduled to continue until the first quarter of 2026.
To improve resource preservation, in 2024 the Opera renewed its collective catering contract to integrate the latest regulatory requirements regarding product quality, waste management, and bio-waste valorization. The new contract notably includes lower-carbon food options, with the introduction of a monthly 100% vegetarian day.
In partnership with the company Athem, the Opera repurposes the advertising banners displayed on the Palais Garnier façades for two purposes: to create covers for storing and transporting the banners during tours, and to protect the stage floor at the Opéra Bastille and Berthier workshops where the banners are painted. This development replaces the previously used polyethylene sheeting (a relatively fragile, nearly single-use plastic) in both cases.

Prospects for further development

Continue implementing actions to reduce energy consumption, including building renovation projects and the participation of the Opera’s Dance School in the second edition of the French Energy Savings Championship (CUBE ÉTAT).
Ensure the ongoing repurposing of decommissioned productions through cultural recycling centers, to guarantee an environmentally responsible end-of-life for sets, following a successful initial trial conducted at the end of 2024 with the Réserve des Arts.
Conduct a digital audit to prioritize the Opera’s actions in support of responsible digital practices.

Did you know?

The roofs of the Opéra Bastille are cultivated using agroecology—which also helps insulate the building—and produce baskets of fruits and vegetables sold to local residents. The Opera is also a honey producer, thanks to beehives installed on the roofs of the Berthier Workshops.