Synergie Économique Laurentides will be able to implement its circular economy initiative in the greater Laurentides region

PIEDMONT, QC, May 25, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Synergie Économique Laurentides (SEL) is applying a very simple concept: one business's waste has the potential to become another business's raw material. SEL plays a key role in the creation of industrial symbiosis by connecting businesses in the Laurentides region in order to facilitate the exchange of waste, energy and expertise. First and foremost, this integrated resource management approach addresses economic concerns, such as the depletion of natural resources and the increase in energy and raw material prices.

Over the past year, SEL contacted over 400 of the 700 manufacturing companies targeted in the first step of the characterization in order to gather information about the business's raw materials and waste. The results obtained provided an overall picture of the region and allowed for the identification of opportunities for better assisting businesses in the region.

Support from the governments of Canada and Quebec
Businesses need to have adequate resources to create and market innovative products. To this end, the Government of Canada is committed to assisting innovative Canadian businesses. It is in support of this priority that David Graham, MP for Laurentides-Labelle, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), is pleased to announce that Synergie Économique Laurentides will be granted a non-repayable contribution of $110,000 to create a network of businesses and communities for the purpose of exchanging waste, water and energy, as well as material, human and technical resources, with a view to enhancing the business's profitability and reducing environmental impacts. The funding will be provided under the Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP).

"At the Government of Canada, we are committed to supporting innovative Canadian businesses," stated Mr. Graham. "A significant economic driver, innovation is key to success since it generates growth that benefits businesses and communities. By supporting Synergie Économique Laurentides' project, our goal is to collaborate in order to respect our commitments and deliver results for Canadians."

For its part, RECYC-QUÉBEC will provide $180,000 to support the project, via the call for proposals for a Transition vers l'économie circulaire (in French only). "Industrial symbiosis provides innovative and economically sound solutions to problems that all businesses face. Having a source of supply nearby and lowering operating costs, while promoting a greener economy, are just some of the many benefits," noted Dany Michaud, President and CEO of RECYC-QUÉBEC. "That's why we, as a government organization, are pleased to support projects such as this one by Synergie Économique Laurentides, which assists businesses and helps them connect in order to create a more circular economy. In this way, one company's waste becomes another company's resource."

Expert in business linking
Synergie Économique Laurentides was created in 2016 through the combined efforts of the Des Laurentides and Antoine-Labelle Sociétés d'aide au développement des collectivités (SADCs) and the Rive-Nord Centre d'aide aux entreprises (CAE). Since then, strong working relationships have been established, and others are in the process of being established, specifically with the eight regional municipal counties (MRCs) in the Laurentides region. The industrial symbiosis project is on a roll: "We decided to target, with the MRCs, key objectives relating to the disposal and reuse of problematic waste, such as agricultural plastic and maple production tubing," noted Sylvie Bolduc, President of SEL. The organization's mission is to maximize the reduction of waste and greenhouse gases produced by businesses in the Laurentides region, while at the same time providing these businesses with an opportunity to realize substantial savings by reusing waste discarded by other businesses in the area.

SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Tel.: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Anny Champoux, Coordinator, Local Economic Development and Communications, SADC des Laurentides, Tel: [phone], extension 26, Email: [email protected]