Since 2014, Québec has been spearheading the transition to a more circular economy and the province has arguably become a leader in circularity in Canada and North America. While Québec’s early path to circularity relied on inter- and transdisciplinary research initiatives, in the 2021–2025 period, Québec has increasingly been an open laboratory for the emergence of cocreation and new business models, as well as for the development of multipartner initiatives between the research worlds.
Although challenges remain, Québec’s collective approach to circularity stands out: Québec has built a regulatory framework, governmental roadmap, common vocabulary and societal approach, all of which are accelerating the adoption of this economic model.

The Transitioning to a Circular Economy in Québec: Consolidation (2021–2025) report documents major steps and initiatives in the highlighted period. In this webinar, Stephanie Jagou, Circularity consultant and author, intends to present the incremental governmental commitment to circularity, how cities and regions have begun working towards circular economy goals, the contribution of social economy  and the cocreation of solutions with academia in the transition to this new economic model, while highlighting various projects in key industrial sectors— among which food systems, textile, plastics, advanced materials and tourism. Following a focus on the circular potential unveiled by Québec’s ELEC Living Lab for Construction, in turn Raphael Lopoukhine, CELC’S Director of Strategic Initiatives, will present how the Circular Construction Innovation Hub (CCIH) is taking on the challenge to unlock Canada’s full circular construction potential and its latest developments.

About the speakers

Stéphanie Jagou has been working in the fields of sustainable development and the circular economy for nearly 20 years. From NGOs to SMEs, multinationals, and academia, she has led numerous projects in Canada, Europe, and New Zealand, and has participated in many development projects (Haiti, Gabon, Costa Rica). She has been involved in various capacities in Quebec’s circular economy ecosystem since 2016. Trainer and lecturer, she is currently a circular economy consultant at HEC Montréal, RRECQ and CERIEC (Center for Intersectoral Studies and Research in Circular Economy).

Raphael Lopoukhine is a policy and strategy leader specializing in circular economy innovation across Canada’s construction and built environment sectors. As Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Circular Economy Leadership Canada, he plays a central role in convening industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to accelerate systems change toward low-carbon, circular solutions.

 

With a background in environmental journalism, government policy, and design-based research, Raphael has advised ministers, led climate communications for national organizations, and authored systems design and policy reports on circular construction materials systems. He brings near 20 years of experience in climate and circular policy, communications, and design, including work with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Passive House Canada, and the City of Guelph’s Smart Cities Office.

 

Raphael holds a Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation from OCAD University, a Masters in Journalism from UBC, and is passionate about turning big ideas into actionable strategies that reshape the future of our built environment.

Watch the webinar

Further information

Links shared during the webinar

Q&A

Answers to questions asked during the webinar

  • How can we move from isolated initiatives to a truly systemic impact in the circular economy?

Through a gradually increasing, revenue-neutral waste levy that provides businesses with long-term certainty about landfill costs, combined with a set of supportive policies to help companies and governments adapt their operations to this major end-of-life system trigger. This would ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to facilitate reuse, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing, repurposing, recycling, and recovery activities throughout the value chain. From there, strengthening standards, incentives, and procurement requirements would create stable demand for circular products and materials, while mandating transparency and data sharing across supply chains would accelerate scaling. Without this combination of steadily rising economic signals and coordinated enabling measures, we will remain stuck in pilots and voluntary commitments rather than achieving systemic impact. In addition, to prevent unintended consequences from new initiatives that lack a systemic, life cycle perspective, it is essential to prioritize circular economy training and on-the-job coaching supported by dedicated funding.

  • Does renewable natural gas (RNG) truly fit within the circular economy?

It is true that methane is a very potent greenhouse gas and that capturing it for use as RNG does not create a strictly “circular” material loop. That said, if organics are already emitting methane, capturing and combusting it for energy can reduce short-term climate impacts compared to venting, flaring, or burning virgin natural gas. A genuine circular strategy for organics would prioritize prevention and higher-order uses: food waste reduction, animal feed, composting, soil regeneration, and bioproducts. RNG should be considered the lowest rung of this hierarchy — useful for unavoidable residuals, but not a substitute for systemic circularity.

  • Why does Quebec’s circularity rate remain so low (3.5%) despite efforts in recent years?

Societal change can take generations. Transitioning from a linear to a circular economy requires changing many rules and mindsets, and cannot be done in isolation. From a broad perspective, much of the necessary groundwork has been laid in Quebec over the past decade. Progress now requires a clear governmental framework, and Quebec has only recently published both its roadmap and its action plan.
Note: For reference, Quebec’s circularity rate is not comparable to Canada’s, as different methodologies were used to calculate them.

  • Could the model of a residential recycling facility (MRF) be applied to the construction and demolition industry? What holds the sector back?

Yes. Construction and demolition MRFs already operate in some places, proving the model can work. They recover wood, metals, concrete, and drywall from mixed loads. What holds the industry back in much of Canada is straightforward: landfill disposal is too cheap, regulations are weak, markets for recovered materials are limited, and builders prioritize speed and cost over diversion. The model succeeds when landfill prices rise, governments mandate diversion, and reliable markets for recovered materials are developed. Without those conditions, landfilling remains the easier option.

  • How can we encourage data sharing on material flows (traceability)?

Information sharing is indeed the foundation for effectively implementing circularity in many businesses and sectors. This is what Synergies agents are doing at the local level. It requires a communication environment where organizations feel secure (in terms of business competition) to share critical data that will advance circularity and enable the exchange of material flows.

  • How are Quebec and Canada preparing for the European Union’s Digital Product Passport (DPP)?

The EU’s Digital Product Passport will reshape global trade by making transparency and circularity prerequisites for market access. For Canada and Quebec, exporters will increasingly need to prove how products are made, what they contain, and how they can be reused or recycled. Canadian exports most at risk are metals, construction materials, plastics, furniture, and textiles, since these sectors will be among the first to face strict EU requirements on transparency, circularity, and carbon performance. This means supply chains will need to become more transparent, data systems more robust, and product design more circular. It is not clear whether regulators have fully grasped the impact of this regulation yet. In practice, the passport will help reinforce the message that sustainability is not just a marketing claim but a market requirement.

  • Can design for adaptability support the social economy?

Yes. Adaptable design is increasingly recognized in architecture. In Quebec, the C40 award-winning project Les Ateliers Cabot in Montreal illustrates how adaptable design can support the social economy through community-driven, circular practices.

  • Is there a roadmap to improve Canada’s circularity rate (6.1%)?

There is not one at present. Please feel free to contact the current Environment Minister to suggest how this should be investigated: ministre-minister@ec.gc.ca
Note: For reference, Quebec’s circularity rate is not comparable to Canada’s, as different methodologies were used to calculate them.

  • Could the association of circular economy with the social economy discourage private investment?

One possible reason for such reactions lies in how the social economy — particularly Social Economy Enterprises (SEEs) — has traditionally been promoted, often without highlighting its key economic impacts or broader network connections. This is changing rapidly in Quebec, where social economy stakeholders are increasingly showcasing positive impacts and where renewed governmental support appears strong. These efforts may prove crucial in overcoming skepticism and negative perceptions.

The RRECQ is supported by the Fonds de recherche du Québec.
Fonds de recherche - Québec