Desjardins announces a $1,250,000 contribution to Cité de l'innovation circulaire et durable September 22, 2023

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Desjardins announces a $1,250,000 contribution to Cité de l'innovation circulaire et durable

September 22, 2023

Victoriaville, September 18, 2023 - Desjardins Group is proud to provide Cité de l'innovation circulaire et durable with $1.25 million in support from its GoodSpark Fund. The funding will help Cité de l'innovation circulaire et durable in its goal to become a key player in circular innovation and sustainable development by piloting large-scale projects that will put the region and businesses at the forefront of the new economy.

The initiative is a natural fit with Desjardins's climate action plan and vision of sustainable development. As the largest cooperative financial group in Canada, Desjardins is working to help businesses speed up the transition to a more sustainable economy.

"Desjardins is proud to provide funding for this project, which boosts the region's appeal and vitality. The transition to a circular economy is a must for businesses to ensure their growth and to support a prosperous future for generations to come," said Guy Cormier, President and CEO of Desjardins Group.

"This financial support is incredibly important and will enable the city and the region to develop a green, circular, sustainable local economy. I'd like to sincerely thank Desjardins, which has been a key partner in this ambitious project to help us become leaders in sustainable development," said Antoine Tardif, mayor of Victoriaville.

"This recognition from one of Canada's largest financial institutions has come at the perfect time in the development of our circular innovation project and the green industrial revolution. This partnership will enable Cité de l'innovation circulaire et durable to support major businesses in the area as they transition to more sustainable development," said Frédérik Boisvert, Executive Director of the CDEVR.

A practical example: Recycling waste water

The announcement was made at the offices of Sani Marc, who has partnered with Cité de l'innovation circulaire et durable for a waste water recycling project.

Treating industrial waste water is a major challenge for cities, chiefly due to the high cost and environmental impacts. Experts have developed a method for recycling stormwater that involves growing microalgae in a greenhouse. The microalgae is then transformed into a paste that can be used to manufacture thermoformed packaging.

This major innovation not only offers considerable annual savings for municipalities and the industries involved, but also presents an alternative to the lengthy decomposition time of thermoformed packaging typically found on the market.

"At Sani Marc, we want to be a leader in sustainable and circular practices. That's why we're excited to break new ground with Cité de l'innovation circulaire et durable's circular innovation project. We'd like to thank Desjardins for its support. This is an opportunity to make a real difference for the local economy and for Quebec," said Mylène Lavigne, Corporate Vice-President at Sani Marc.

About Cité de l'innovation circulaire et durable
Cité de l'innovation circulaire et durable draws on the strengths of Victoriaville and surrounding areas to be a leader in sustainable development and circular economy innovation. The organization is supported and guided by the Corporation de développement économique de Victoriaville et sa région (CDEVR).

Information and interviews:
Josée Morissette
Communications Advisor, Cité de l'innovation circulaire et durable
cité[email protected]
418-929-5291