How the Bordeaux Metropolitan administration uses measurement to drive its Sustainable IT strategy
Bordeaux Métropole is a public inter-municipal authority that brings together 28 municipalities and nearly 850,000 residents. Of these, 19 have pooled their IT systems, now used daily by over 22,000 staff.
As part of its 2050 carbon neutrality goal, the Métropole wanted to embed digital services into its environmental strategy. The General Directorate for Digital and IT Systems committed to making the environmental impact of IT visible — to support decision-making, engage teams, and drive long-term transformation.
“This partnership is built on trust and transparency. It helps us meet a core challenge for our metropolis: shaping a digital future that we choose — not one that’s imposed on us.”
About
Bordeaux Métropole is the métropole centred on the city of Bordeaux, in South West France. It brings together 28 municipalities, and covers an area of 578.3 km2 (223.3 sq mi). Its population was 801,041 in 2018.
https://www.bordeaux-metropole.fr/
Challenge
Before working with Aguaro, Bordeaux Métropole considered commissioning a one-time audit, to be repeated periodically. But this approach lacked continuity and didn’t allow teams to build momentum. Key limitations included:
No ongoing measurement connected to existing systems
No ability to rerun or simulate the carbon footprint over time
Lack of clear environmental indicators to raise awareness or guide decisions
No shared reference framework to align actions with political commitments
Solution
Bordeaux Métropole selected Aguaro to implement a dynamic carbon footprint model, fully integrated with its asset management system. Within two months, the teams were able to generate a first reliable footprint — a solid foundation for action.
The project was structured around three core pillars:
Dynamic measurement: the ability to launch, rerun, simulate, and update the environmental footprint continuously
Team enablement: hands-on support to help internal teams understand and apply environmental accounting principles
Awareness-building: embedding a shared culture of digital impact across teams, from procurement to IT operations
The solution was deployed seamlessly as an add-on to the existing ServiceNow environment and refined iteratively based on user feedback.
Results
First reliable carbon footprint established within 2 months
2.5% reduction in the footprint of digital equipment within the first year
Environmental footprint is gradually becoming a decision-making factor, alongside financial and functional considerations
Regular publication of the footprint in line with political commitments
Stronger engagement across IT and digital teams, supported by concrete, actionable data
Today, Bordeaux Métropole sees carbon measurement not as a report — but as a lever. Aguaro helps the teams shift from measurement to action, supporting a digital strategy that serves the common good.
