POLREC exploratory mission to Quebec on polymer recycling

A look back at the POLREC exploratory mission to Quebec on polymer recycling

Polymeris organized a collective European mission to Quebec as part of the European POLREC project coordinated by the cluster. The aim of POLREC is to encourage the adoption of plastic waste recycling solutions by European SMEs to strengthen the EU's resilience, and to export European know-how to key partner countries. Canada, the world's 6th-largest plastics producer, and more specifically the province of Quebec, was identified by the project partners thanks to the strong relationships Polymeris had forged with Quebec niches (clusters) during previous projects and exploratory missions. Quebec is home to 70% of Canada's plastics companies, 31% of the rubber industry and 23% of the composites industry, and has repeatedly expressed interest in strengthening its collaboration with European partners, particularly French-speaking ones, and working to promote the sustainability of its industries.

The European delegation comprised 11 structures: five French companies, three Danish companies and one Dutch company from the plastics and rubber sector, as well as two clusters: Polymeris and CENTIMFE (technology center and cluster for Portuguese molders and plastics manufacturers).

The mission began on Monday February 3 in Montreal, with an acculturation to the Quebec business world at the French CCI in Canada, followed by exchanges with the Quebec economic development agency PRIMA on the advanced materials sector, and the sharing of recycling solutions for these materials with PRIMA member companies.

The mission continued in Sherbrooke on Tuesday, February 4, with a visit to plastic and rubber material processors and recyclers, members of our two partner clusters La Vallée des Elastomères and Alliance Polymères Quebec. La Vallée des Elastomères organized an exchange circle on February 5, enabling European companies to pitch their solutions to Quebec companies, as well as technical centers and public investment support agencies. The delegation then visited the Centre De Technologie Minérale Et De Plasturgie.

The mission ended in Quebec City with a pitch and discussions with plastics companies, followed by a visit to the Mechanical Engineering Department of Laval University by Professor Denis Rodrigue.

The diversity of the players involved and the exchanges enabled the mission participants to gain a better understanding of the Quebec plastics and rubber ecosystem and its current challenges in terms of circularity and international partnerships.