RECYC-QUÉBEC is proud to organize the second Assises québécoises de l’économie circulaire. This flagship event for the circular economy in Quebec is a unique opportunity to take stock of the situation, share innovative initiatives and identify opportunities that municipalities, businesses and organizations can seize.
These two half days of plenaries and virtual discussion sessions will allow participants to learn more on how the circular economy is deployed, especially within sectors with strong potential for circularity, and familiarize themselves with available tools and resources. More than twenty conference speakers and experts will shed light on the state of the circular economy in Quebec and around the world. Come join the actors of the transition towards a more circular economic model!
**Simultaneous English-French translation available
| MAY 26 | 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. |
|---|---|
8:00 a.m. |
Introduction and Opening Remarks |
8:10 a.m. |
Opening plenary – New Developments Since The Last Conference |
9:00 a.m. |
Break |
9:10 a.m. |
Food: The Agro-Food Industry |
10:00 a.m. |
Break |
10:10 a.m. |
Housing: Buildings and Infrastructure |
11:00 a.m. |
Break |
11:05 a.m. |
Clothing: The Textile Industry |
11:55 a.m. |
Conclusion |
| MAY 27 | 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
|---|---|
8:00 a.m. |
Introduction and Opening Remarks |
8:10 a.m. |
Regions and Cities: At The Heart of the Circular Economy |
9:00 a.m. |
Break |
9:10 a.m. |
Repairing: A Means to End Obsolescense |
10:00 a.m. |
Break |
10:10 a.m. |
Transportation: Mobility and The Circular Economy |
11:00 a.m. |
Funding The Development of the Circular Economy |
**Simultaneous English-French translation available
Facilitator: Marie Grégoire, Multifunctional Communicator
| MAY 26 | 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. |
|---|---|
8:00 a.m. |
Introduction and Opening RemarksSonia Gagné, President and CEO, RECYC-QUÉBEC |
8:10 a.m. |
Opening plenary – New Developments Since The Last ConferenceSince the last Assises québécoises de l’économie circulaire, held in 2018, the circular economy has grown, not only in Europe and France, but also in Canada and Quebec. This plenary session will provide the opportunity to learn about new developments around the world in terms of programs, policies, research and other promising and inspiring initiatives. Jocelyn Blériot, Executive lead , Ellen MacArthur Foundation (United Kingdom) |
9:00 a.m. |
Break: Financial tools |
9:10 a.m. |
Food: The Agro-Food IndustryConsidering the food loss and waste from the field to the plate, the circular economy holds much potential in the agro-food industry. Several initiatives in this respect are already under way. The Guelph-Wellington County Region in Ontario stands out by seeking to become Canada’s first circular food economy. La Tablée des Chefs is actively involved in the distribution of food surpluses to community organizations. Entosystem, a young Sherbrooke company, is involved in the farming of insects while creating synergies with other companies in order to reduce food waste and promote the outputs associated with its activities. Barbara Swartzentruber, Executive Director, Smart Cities Office, City of Guelph |
10:00 a.m. |
Break: A Circular Approach to Heating |
10:10 a.m. |
Housing: Buildings and InfrastructureBuildings and infrastructure is the area that uses the largest amount of resources worldwide, in addition to generating greenhouse gases and waste. Several circular strategies can therefore be deployed to reduce the sector’s environmental footprint. The social economy enterprise Entremise optimizes the use of vacant buildings and gives them a new lease on life through transitional occupancy. Deconstruction in view of reusing materials is also a solution to consider. And things are moving in that direction. Unbuilders, a Vancouver-based startup, for example, is busy taking residential and commercial buildings apart. In Montreal, the old Champlain Bridge will also be disassembled so that its components can be reused. This session presents innovative initiatives aimed at making this sector more circular. Philémon Gravel, Executive Director and Co-founder, Entremise |
11:00 a.m. |
Break: Quebec's Circularity Index |
11:05 a.m. |
Clothing: The Textile IndustryThe textile and clothing sector is highly globalized and linear. This industry creates major environmental impacts in terms of energy use, resource use, greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. From the manufacturing of clothing to its use, this entire sector could therefore transition toward a circular economy. But the question is how? This is what you will hear about during this session, which will present an overview of the sector in Quebec, possible circular economy strategies, and inspiring examples of companies that optimize the use of clothing items throughout their lifecycle. Marianne-Coquelicot Mercier, Circular Economy Advisor For The Textile Industry |
11:55 a.m. |
Conclusion |
**Simultaneous English-French translation available
Facilitator: Marie Grégoire, Multifunctional Communicator
| MAY 27 | 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
|---|---|
8:00 a.m. |
Introduction and Opening RemarksBenoit Charette, Minister, Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques |
8:10 a.m. |
Regions and Cities: At The Heart of the Circular EconomyOne of the principles of the circular economy is to favour short and local loops. Hence, urban and rural areas are ideally suited for the deployment of the circular economy. And examples abound in Quebec, since the circular economy takes root in many regions. The CTTÉI, an organization renowned in industrial ecology, drives the Synergie Québec community, which brings together industrial symbiosis projects across Quebec. SADC Kamouraska is an example with the use of symbiosis and other circular strategies in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. The City of Montréal, for its part, is transitioning towards a circular economy and is actively involved in deploying several measures, including the creation of a roadmap. Claude Maheux-Picard, Executive Director, Centre de transfert technologique en écologie industrielle (CTTÉI) |
9:00 a.m. |
Break: Tools For The Regions |
9:10 a.m. |
Repairing: A Means to End ObsolescenceRepairs extend the life of products and are an efficient solution to obsolescence, whether functional, technological, economic or psychological. Groupe SEB, a French manufacturer of small household appliances, is known for its commitment to repairing its products. The organization Protégez-vous, a key Quebec reference for consumers, has been further reinforcing the concept of reparability in evaluating products through testing and research. Consumers also play an important part in product repair, but they need access to services and information. Various initiatives, such as repairathons, blogs and repair workshops, are underway, and Ms. Annick Girard, an expert in the field, will tell us where things stand. Joël Tronchon, Director of Sustainable Development, Groupe SEB (France) |
10:00 a.m. |
Break: Repairing & Ecodesign |
10:10 a.m. |
Transportation: Mobility and The Circular EconomyQuebec has been focusing on the electrification of transportation. Telework, which has increased as a result of the pandemic, appears to be a longer-term trend. E-commerce is more present than ever in consumption habits. This has led to a transformation in modes of transport. How can the mobility of people and goods be made more circular? This is the major question our experts will be asked to address. Catherine Morency, Ph.D., Professor, Polytechnique Montréal |
11:00 a.m. |
Funding The Development of the Circular EconomyTo wrap up the 2nd Assises québécoises de l’économie circulaire, we will look at sustainable funding to support the circular economy. The past few months have seen a number of innovative funding models intended to help Quebec organizations and small and medium enterprises deliver on their commitment to implement circular economy projects and strategies. Support from economic players complements the government’s efforts to promote the development of the circular economy. Players of the finance industry discuss an increasingly popular business model. Stéphane Pigeon, Director, Green Economy and Logistics Department, Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation Closing remarksSonia Gagné, President and CEO, RECYC-QUÉBEC |