Strengthen collaboration between businesses and organizations to make Gaspésie a model region in the circular economy.
Partner: RECYC – QUÉBEC
Area of intervention: Adaptation to social and climate change
Services: Support and accompaniment
Year: 2016
Researcher: Étienne Jean-St-Laurent
The circular economy: driver of sustainable development
The circular economy is a system of production, exchange and consumption aimed at optimizing the use of resources at all stages of the life cycle of a good or service. The concept involves new practices based on the use of goods rather than their possession; on the reuse, recycling and recovery of products and their components.
CIRADD, in collaboration with over a dozen businesses and organizations from Gaspésie, has contributed to the establishment of a structured network promoting exchanges between businesses in order to facilitate the supply of raw materials and the management of residual materials as well as the exchange of expertise, spaces and equipment.
Example of a circular input network in the region:
- The Scierie de St-Elzéar sends forest residues to Cime Aventures to fuel their biomass heating.
- The Ferme Bourdages sends strawberry wort residues to the Microbrasserie Le Naufrageur to use in brewing strawberry beer.
- The Microbrasserie Le Naufrageur sends brewing residues to the farm Le groin dans le foin for animal feed.
These circular input networks contribute to the sustainable development of the region by encouraging the emergence of a circular economy which extends the life cycle of resources. They help reduce greenhouse gases by promoting local industries, complementary networks and energy efficiency.
