Virage Vert Food Sector

Accelerating the shift of the food sector towards environmental responsibility

The SADCs des Laurentides and d’Antoine-Labelle have mandated Synergie Économique Laurentides to support businesses in the food sector in their efforts to adopt environmentally responsible practices. The initiative is carried out through the Virage Vert program.

The objective of the support project is to improve the environmental performance and resilience of businesses in the food sector through various structuring actions, while being adapted to their reality. This project will take place over a period of 18 months across the Pays-d’en-Haut, Laurentides and Antoine Labelle RCM territories.

Support in the form of four circular economy strategies will be offered to participating businesses. For each strategy, different actions will be proposed (training, workshop or webinar, visit, self-assessment or videoconference meeting) in order to meet the specific needs of businesses, according to their reality and taking into account the time they will have to devote to the project. The aim is to provide guidance and tools to as many companies as possible, with the goal that they all undertake one or more actions.

Targeted Businesses

Approximately one hundred businesses and organizations will be contacted by the RCM in the following sub-sectors, with the objective of accompanying about fifteen per territory:

  • Restaurants (with or without delivery services)
  • Caterers
  • Grocery stores, supermarkets
  • Specialized grocery stores (butcher shops, cheese shops, bakeries, etc.)
  • Businesses offering prepared meal services (Meals on Wheels, schools, etc.)
  • Artisans and producers offering packaged products.

Proposed Strategies

Support in the form of four circular economy strategies will be offered to participating businesses. For each strategy, different actions will be proposed (training, workshop or webinar, visit, self-assessment or videoconference meeting) in order to meet the specific needs of businesses, according to their reality and taking into account the time they will have to devote to the project. The aim is to provide guidance and tools to as many companies as possible, with the goal that they all undertake one or more actions

 

Buy Responsibly
  • Choice of containers: Some containers said to be “compostable” or “recyclable” are not always, according to the criteria of the composting and recycling platforms in the region. The businesses participating in the project will be accompanied in choosing accepted containers, so that they correspond to the best environmental and economic choice for them.
  • Group purchasing: In order to meet the demands of certain businesses and to reduce the cost of purchasing small quantities, group purchasing may be considered.
  • Review local and responsible purchasing practices for inputs and products purchased by businesses and propose local suppliers if possible.

TRAINING: From packaging to recycling: Understand the impacts of packaging on the environment and the best choices for your company.

Experts: Eco-Entreprise Quebec, Solution Bkoze or ECPAR

Introduce a reusable dish deposit system

The La Vague model is a province-wide network of businesses that has been in existence for a few years offering a returnable reusable cup (La Tasse), available in over 400 establishments in Quebec. The La boite returnable dish project, which has been in development for one year by the same organization, will be deployed in the winter of 2023. The principle is that merchants join individually, reimburse the deposit, wash the dishes on site and put them back into circulation. Participating businesses receive a comprehensive plan of visibility and assistance.

In partnership with La Vague, the support provided will demonstrate the benefits, facilitate membership and convince businesses to join the wave in order to create a local network from which Mont-Tremblant and Mont-Laurier can benefit and promote.

TRAINING: Resource sharing: rethinking the foundations of its operations and reviewing the place given to the user experience.

EXPERT: La Vague or Guillaume Lavoie, expert in collaborative economy

Introduce a reusable dish deposit system

On-site coaching will be proposed to optimize the sorting of residual materials, proposing tools, tips and links with the services offered to the municipality.

TRAINING: Individual training for employees: Sort better to save money.

EXPERT: Synergie Économique Laurentides

Introduce a reusable dish deposit system

  • Participating businesses will be linked, when relevant, with local food safety agencies in order to optimize food collection routes, in collaboration with Moisson Laurentides.

     

  • Expert assistance will be offered to ensure that food waste is reduced during the preparation of
    during meal preparation in order to achieve eco-efficiency in the restaurant industry.

     

TRAINING: Better planning to reduce food loss: solutions to reduce food waste

EXPERT: ITHQ , The Kitchen

Expected results

  • Reduced ecological impact of participating businesses.
  • Promotion and enhancement of environmentally responsible practices of a pool of food businesses in the region.
  • Compliance with the new municipal bylaw banning single-use plastics (in place or to come) and/or response to the growing demand of informed consumers.
  • Reduced supply costs through group purchasing, by reducing packaging or using disposable dishes.
  • Increased gross margin through better use of foodstuffs.
  • Improved corporate image and increased customer loyalty of those concerned about the environment.
  • Retention of workforce thanks to an innovative project.
Visit the Synergie Économique Laurentides website

For more information, please contact Jean-Michel Archambault-Cyr, Project Manager at Synergie Économique Laurentides.
450 229-2983 ext. 4

This project is run in collaboration with the SADC d’Antoine-Labelle, the Greater Tremblant Chamber of Commerce, the City of Mont-Laurier, the CDE of the Laurentides RCM and Tourisme Laurentides.

The Virage Vert Program is implemented by the Réseau des SADC et CAE with Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.