CIRCULAR ECONOMY ACCELERATOR

Designed to support Vancouver Island and Coast businesses to adopt circular principles, reduce waste and emissions, and develop innovative practices (March 2024 - March 2026)

The Circular Economy Accelerator Program sought to create an inclusive circular economy in urban and rural communities within the Vancouver Island-Coast region. This project supported existing businesses to incorporate circular economy practices into their operations and facilitate regional cluster development to divert waste to circular processes and new economic opportunities in these communities.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

The Circular Economy Accelerator helped businesses:

Identify savings opportunities and new revenue streams

Reduce waste, energy consumption, water and emissions

Position themselves as industry and community leaders

Make connections with like minded businesses

Provide data to clients who require ESG reporting

The 1:1 support and tailored recommendations helped us identify efficiencies, reduce waste, and implement innovative sustainable practices. The insights and roadmap provided a clear path forward, allowing us to enhance our sustainability efforts while also improving operational efficiency.

Ian Sanghara & Leo Gayosso, Inn at Laurel Point

2024 Accelerator Program Participant

PROGRAM JOURNEY

GET INVOLVED

Business signs up for the program via online intake form and books a kick-off call with their advisor to gather baseline data.

ASSESSMENT & ROADMAP

Advisor conducts site visit at business’ facility.

Business receives personalized sustainability plan with 35-40 actionable and practical recommendations and a clear roadmap with estimated costs, timelines, and recommendations for funding opportunities.

ONGOING SUPPORT

Business gets further support with 6-month and 1-year check-in calls.

ASSESSMENT IMPACT

The following savings could be realized if businesses were to implement each action from their sustainability plan:

33,326 m3

Potential Annual Water Savings

2,716 tCO2e

Potential Annual Emissions Reduced

352,775 kg

Potential Annual Waste Diverted

2507 MWh

Potential Annual Energy Saved

566,302 L

Potential Fuel Usage Reduced

3,898 GJ

Potential Natural Gas Reduced

This impact captures potential reductions from measurable actions only. Additional savings may be realized through implementation of further actions.

HEAR FROM PAST PARTICIPANTS

MEET THE ACCELERATOR BUSINESSES

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Victoria Women In Need Community Cooperative

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Oyster Bay

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

A BUSINESS' GUIDE TO THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

This publication provides guidance for businesses who seek to implement circular economy concepts in their operations. It presents background information and actionable recommendations that empower organizations across sectors to take action and begin the transition towards circularity.

READ IT NOW

2022/2023 FINAL REPORT

Learn more about the 2022/2023 pilot program, completed in partnership with Vancouver Island Coast Economic Developers Association.

READ IT NOW

2023 WEBINAR SERIES

The Circular Economy Webinar Series was designed to provide guidance to businesses who want to implement circular economy principles in their operations but don’t know where to start. The series is comprised of four webinars aimed at the tourism and hospitality, construction, and food and beverage processing industries and local government.