RRECQ publishes the fruit of several months of collective work and co-creation, in which over 330 stakeholders – including many specialists – were mobilized to co-construct the vision of a circular Quebec in 2050 and map out the paths to get us there. The end result is an ambitious roadmap to guide the transition to a circular economy in Quebec by 2050.
Thanks to an interdisciplinary, systemic and participatory approach, backed by the methodological support of Chemins de transition, we have imagined a future that is both desirable and possible, based on a profoundly different economic model.
Three major challenges are still holding back the transition:
- Inefficient and wasteful production: over-reliance on virgin resources and poor integration of circular models into production chains.
- Unsustainable consumption: commercial practices favoring obsolescence, combined with cultural resistance to change.
- Fragmented governance: regulation ill-adapted to the demands of circular transition and insufficient incentives.
To reconcile the preservation of ecosystems and the satisfaction of society’s needs, RRECQ firmly believes in the need to move towards a circular economy. This transition requires profound, systemic and inclusive transformations, mobilizing all spheres of society. To organize and implement the transition, roadmaps appear to be advantageous tools, mobilizing stakeholders and proposing solutions adapted to different contexts.
The one proposed by RRECQ offers a long-term vision for Quebec, looking ahead to 2050, when we have successfully made the transition to a circular economy. It is the starting point for charting the trajectory of step-by-step transformations across the entire socio-economic system.
A roadmap to guide the transition
To reconcile the preservation of ecosystems and the satisfaction of society’s needs, RRECQ firmly believes in the need to move towards a circular economy. This transition requires profound, systemic and inclusive transformations, mobilizing all spheres of society. To organize and implement the transition, roadmaps appear to be advantageous tools, mobilizing stakeholders and proposing solutions adapted to different contexts.
The one proposed by RRECQ offers a long-term vision for Quebec, looking ahead to 2050, when we have successfully made the transition to a circular economy. It is the starting point for charting the trajectory of step-by-step transformations across the entire socio-economic system.
The 10 key milestones of the roadmap
A total of 67 milestones have been identified to form the Transition Trajectory 2025-2050, linking the current situation to the desired future. Ten milestones play a strategic role in initiating this transition: these are the pivotal milestones.
Many of the roadmap’s milestones will have a direct impact on business and industry, accelerating their transition to a circular economy. It proposes a coherent set of essential action mechanisms to transform business practices and strengthen the resilience of Quebec’s economic fabric. The RRECQ is reaching out to businesses, inviting them to deepen their knowledge and mobilize strategic and operational levers in the circular economy.
Several aspects are covered along the way: education, training and research; support for players in the field; resource traceability; collaborative innovation; improving regulatory frameworks and promoting responsible sourcing.
A strategic avenue for companies
Overall, the circular economy aims to optimize the use of resources throughout the production-consumption cycle. On three strategic levels: the circular economy helps companies to face up to the pressures of external markets, to project themselves towards more sustainable horizons, and to cultivate values of transmission essential to ensuring the future.
On the economic front:
In an uncertain context, strengthening the circular economy in the business community would enable Quebec to secure its strategic supplies of material resources and energy. It’s also a unique opportunity for local businesses to improve their productivity, competitiveness and resilience.
Locally:
Emergence of an opportunity to develop strong regional supply chains and optimize short circuits in the territories.
Environmentally:
Reduce pressure on ecosystems to preserve natural resources, the jewel of our territory, for communities and future generations.
Quebec has many assets to accelerate the transition. Together, we have the opportunity to build a society based on circular, regenerative, sustainable and resilient production; sober and circular consumption, rooted in a profound respect for nature; and inclusive, transparent and equitable resource governance, guaranteeing the protection of ecosystems.
