The 8th edition of the Grande rentrée du développement durable symposium, held by the Comité 21 on September 21 and 22 in Longueuil, was a resounding success, attracting 116 participants in symposiums and workshops.

This annual event, highlighted the progress and commitments of seventeen industry leaders in favor of the circular economy. Among them were renowned companies such as Emballages Carrousel, Les Jardins de l'écoumène, Intellinox Technologies, Intersand, Soprema, Construction Longer, Cartier and Ecolopharm.

Their determination to make a clear shift towards a circular economy in Montérégie was a central element of this edition.

This edition of the Grande Rentrée DD was a great success, highlighting the growing commitment of companies to the circular economy.

Inspiring testimonials, demonstrations of concrete practices and contributions from prestigious speakers sparked constructive discussions and innovative ideas for the future.

The second day of the symposium saw the identification of business synergies on available industrial residual materials during a meshing workshop organized by Comité 21 in collaboration with the CTTÉI and CRE de la Montérégie.

The event also featured presentations by Paul Boulanger, founder of Pikaia, and Pascale St-Germain, strategic environmental consultant and circular economy director at Comité 21, demonstrating concrete business practices in Quebec and France in the area of the economy of functionality and cooperation.

This international dimension underlined the growing importance of the circular economy on a global scale.

"The symposium marks another step towards our goal. Starting in the Montérégie region, Comité 21 will, by 2030, create an ecosystem of players who, through a territorial approach and by putting businesses at the heart of the action, will bring about a real circular, sober and solidarity-based economy," explains Bérénice St-Martin, President of the Board of Directors of Comité 21 and a consultant and trainer in business strategy.

Patrick Bousez, Prefect of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC, Mayor of Rivière-Beaudette, Vice-Chairman of the Table de concertation régionale de la Montérégie (TCRM) and Vice-Chairman representing the MRCs belonging to the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), encouraged companies to sign up to the circular approach to industrial residual materials.

"Montérégie Circulaire is a major project to support the development of a circular economy for the entire Montérégie region, with positive and concrete spin-offs for the environment and beyond," he says proudly.

"It is with great pride that I welcome the leaders and managers of organizations who want to move towards circularity for sustainable development. I'm signing off this 8th edition of the Grande rentrée DD with an extraordinary team, committed partners and entrepreneurs proud to express themselves in all humility", adds Lorraine Simard, President and CEO of Comité 21 and expert consultant in environmental and societal leadership.

A fascinating conference on biomimicry, presented by Paul Boulanger, also drew enthusiastic responses from the audience. Jean-François Lévêque from Jardins de l'écoumène, Karine Navilys from Emballages Carrousel and Lorraine Simard from Comité 21 shared their perspectives on the importance of human-centered innovation in the transition to a circular economy.

"Humility linked to curiosity, reflection and "mindshare" is an essential vector for success. This humility takes root when we properly assess the real state and needs of our ecosystem," concludes Lorraine Simard of Comité 21.