Sustainable Development

RESPONSIBLE PROCUREMENT POLICY

The Québec Winter Carnival (hereinafter “the Carnival”) aims to limit its ecological footprint by reducing its needs at the source, prioritizing the purchase of environmentally friendly products, and promoting social reintegration, local employment, and social equity.

In this spirit, the Carnival has adopted a Responsible Procurement Policy to ensure that purchasing decisions align as much as possible with the three pillars of sustainable development: environmental, social, and economic. This approach seeks to minimize needs at the source and apply the 4RVE principle throughout the purchasing process: Rethink – Reduce – Reuse – Recycle.

OBJECTIVES

• Define responsible procurement criteria for targeted products and services purchased by the Carnival.
• Encourage purchasing from local and regional suppliers, as well as from Québec social economy enterprises.

STATEMENTS

Responsible Procurement

Responsible procurement integrates environmental and social criteria into the purchasing process for goods and services. Its aim is to reduce environmental impact, increase social benefits, and reinforce the economic sustainability of organizations across the entire product lifecycle.

All purchases made by Carnival employees, or on behalf of the Carnival by third parties, must comply with and prioritize responsible procurement principles, based on three core criteria:

• Local proximity
• Social economy
• Fair compensation

PAPER USE AND PROCUREMENT

• The Carnival commits to minimizing the negative impacts of paper use by promoting awareness, sending documents digitally, and limiting the number of shared printers. If, for legal reasons, documents must be kept in paper format, they will be printed once for archiving.
• Individual printers will only be allowed for confidentiality purposes.

Purchase criteria:

• Prioritize FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and/or SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) certified paper with the highest possible percentage of recycled fibers.
• Favor chlorine-free or TCF/PCF-labeled paper.
• Avoid paper with hazardous chemical substances.
• Require local or national manufacturing.
• Exclude dyes containing heavy metals (lead, nickel, cadmium, mercury).

EFFIGIES AND MEDALLIONS

• Favor ecological, recycled, and/or recyclable materials.
• Prioritize Québec-based suppliers.

PRINTING

The quantity for each order must be carefully assessed to align as closely as possible with actual needs.

Purchase criteria:

• FSC/SFI certified paper with maximum recycled fiber content.
• Chlorine-free PCF or TCF-labeled paper.
• Printers using environmentally responsible processes.
• Use of water-based or vegetable-based inks.
• No carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic chemicals.
• Products free of harmful substances.
• Preferably printed by companies located in Québec City.

OFFICE SUPPLIES

The Carnival commits to limiting supply purchases by promoting reuse, selecting durable products, and centralizing purchases to avoid overstocking.

Purchase criteria:

• Certified eco-responsible products.
• Long-lasting and durable items.
• Rechargeable products.
• Easily recyclable items.
• FSC/SFI certified paper products, chlorine-free (PCF or TCF).
• Recycled plastic products.
• Water-based adhesives and inks.
• Avoid overpackaging.
• Exclude items containing heavy metals.
• Exclude exotic wood-based items.

At end of life, IT equipment must be sent to a certified electronics recycling center.

LOCAL, FAIR, AND RECYCLABLE PRODUCTS

For merchandise and consumables, the Carnival will prioritize the following criteria while considering financial feasibility and business sustainability.

Purchase criteria:

• Buy Québec products (made, designed, or manufactured locally).
• Purchase from local businesses.
• Prioritize local sourcing.
• Use recycled and recyclable dishware for food kiosks.
• Provide reusable, refundable glasses at bars with visible collection points.
• Consider total lifecycle cost (not just purchase price).
• Limit single-use items.

Definitions:

A “Québec product” is a manufactured product for which at least 85% of the direct costs related to the purchase of inputs (including raw materials), their processing, and their assembly are incurred in Québec. In addition, the final substantial transformation* of the product must be carried out in Québec.

A “product made in Québec” is a manufactured product for which the final substantial transformation* is carried out in Québec.

A “product designed in Québec” is a manufactured product for which the workforce assigned to design and conception activities is entirely based in Québec.

* Substantial transformation refers to a fundamental change (usually through a processing or manufacturing procedure) in the function, character, or nature of a product that gives it its essential characteristics.

Source: https://lesproduitsduquebec.com/processus-de-verification

RECYCLING AND UPCYCLING OF DECORS AND COSTUMES

• Prioritize upcycling before producing new items.
• Send sets and decors to La Remise culturelle for reuse.
• Recycle metals.

CLEANING AND PAINT PRODUCTS

Purchase criteria:

• Low impact on health and environment.
• Biodegradable when possible.
• Certified eco-performance.
• Free of solvents, toxic additives, and VOCs.
• Containers refillable by the supplier.
• Limit aerosol products; if unavoidable, ensure proper end-of-life disposal.

At end of life, leftover products must be collected by certified hazardous waste companies.

VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Before each purchase or rental, the Carnival will assess real needs in advance. If rental proves necessary, the following will apply:

Vehicles:

Prioritize renting electric or hybrid vehicles when charging stations are available, according to the needs of the different teams (administration, workshops, field, etc.);

Diesel vehicles:
Favor gasoline-powered vehicles over diesel.

Equipment and tools:

• Ensure proper disposal of batteries at end of life.
• Prioritize electric tools whenever possible.