What is the Eco-Innov Centre?
Inform. Engage. Act.
Created by Carrousel in January 2022, the Eco-Innov Centre is a space dedicated to research, reflection and knowledge-sharing around eco-responsible packaging. Its purpose is to support the industry in its transition toward more responsible practices and to help shift a historically linear sector toward a more circular model.
Through awareness initiatives, training and collaboration with experts, the Eco-Innov Centre aims to equip businesses, stimulate innovation and encourage the adoption of better practices. By sharing our expertise and fostering dialogue, we seek to contribute to the emergence of new benchmarks for the packaging industry.
Where did the idea for the Eco-Innov Centre come from?
Starting in 2017, the rise of citizen movements denouncing overpackaging highlighted growing consumer dissatisfaction and an increasingly negative perception of packaging. Although essential to product protection and waste reduction, its role remained largely misunderstood.
At Carrousel, we had already been advocating for the concept of “right-sized packaging,” meaning the use of solutions that are appropriate—no more, no less. However, in the face of this unfavorable perception, it quickly became clear that simply observing was no longer enough. We needed to take on a more active and educational role to better explain the real challenges surrounding packaging and eco-responsibility.
A structured path toward greater engagement
This realization led to a broader internal reflection at Carrousel. Internal training initiatives, notably in partnership with Éco Entreprises Québec, helped strengthen our knowledge in eco-design, recyclability and materials management.
The launch of the 500+ program then marked a turning point, with the introduction of 500 new products featuring environmental attributes each year over five years. At the same time, the realization that some materials considered recyclable in theory are not always recycled in practice reinforced our commitment to promoting concrete circular economy solutions.
These efforts culminated in 2021 with a strategic initiative involving nearly 80 employees, confirming a clear ambition: to play a more engaged and structuring role in eco-responsibility within the packaging industry.
From this collective reflection, the Eco-Innov Centre was created, with the ambition of contributing in a concrete way to the evolution of industry practices..
Eco-Innov Centre initiatives
Web series – Packaging: Mission Sustainable
Packaging: Mission Sustainable is a clear and inspiring exploration of what must evolve to reduce the environmental and social impact of packaging. In each episode, passionate experts share their reflections, their doubts, their ideas and, above all, concrete paths forward to move toward greater circularity. A series that sparks reflection, inspires action—and shows that progress happens faster when we move forward together.
Available in French only.
Packaging Industry Summit on Eco-Responsibility – First edition
Through its Eco-Innov Centre, Carrousel proudly organized the first-ever Packaging Industry Summit on Eco-Responsibility on October 21, 2025, at the Saint-Hyacinthe Convention Centre. This event brought together stakeholders from across the value chain around a shared objective: to reflect on the future of packaging and move toward action. Engaged panels, open discussions, hands-on workshops, sometimes contrasting but always constructive perspectives—the Summit reflected an industry in motion, aware of its responsibilities and ready to evolve. The conversation has begun and will continue well beyond this day.
This Summit was made possible thanks to the support of the Écoemballage+ program.
Webinar on single-use plastics
Regulations surrounding single-use plastics are profoundly transforming practices in the food sector. To help businesses navigate these changes, the Eco-Innov Centre developed a webinar focused on understanding and applying these new requirements.
What this webinar covers:
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Which packaging products are allowed, restricted or banned
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Key timelines to understand and anticipate
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The concrete impacts on your operations and product offering
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Carrousel’s role in supporting your regulatory transition
Availbale in French only.
Webinar – Right-sized food packaging: what does lifecycle analysis reveal?
What if the “right” packaging isn’t always what we think? Between recyclable, compostable and bio-based options, it is not always easy to determine what truly makes a difference. In this webinar, the Eco-Innov Centre partnered with CIRAIG (International Reference Centre for Life Cycle Assessment and Sustainable Transition) to explore lifecycle analysis (LCA) and better understand which packaging attributes have a measurable impact.
Led by Anne-Marie Boulay, professor at Polytechnique Montréal and Executive Director of CIRAIG, this presentation provides practical benchmarks to support better decision-making, adapted to Quebec and Canadian realities.
Available in French only.
Participation in panels and conferences on eco-responsible packaging
Through various platforms, Carrousel and the Eco-Innov Centre actively contribute to discussions shaping the future of packaging, circular economy and materials management.
Mercuriades Awards
Organizer: Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec
Date: May 2025
Carrousel received the Mercure award in Sustainable Development and Circular Economy (RECYC-QUÉBEC).
During his speech, Michel Bourassa invited businesses to demonstrate “eco-courage” and to place sustainability at the heart of their strategies.
Podcast – Ça va mieux qu’on pense (Americana Special)
Date: March 2025
As a guest on the show, the Eco-Innov Centre took part in a discussion covering Carrousel’s history, its sustainability vision, the key functions of packaging, usage scenarios, the Carrou-Cycle program and the limitations of compostable packaging.
Residual Materials Management Conference
Organizer: Réseau Environnement
Date: October 2025
The Eco-Innov Centre presented the Carrou-Cycle program during a session dedicated to circular economy initiatives. Participants discovered the origins of the program, the volumes of plastic diverted from landfill and our commitment to developing concrete circular solutions.
Plastics Industry Forum
Organizer: Plasticompétences
Date: April 2025
Our CEO Michel Bourassa delivered a conference on Carrousel’s journey and the actions taken to encourage businesses to become agents of change within their industry. A mobilizing message that generated strong engagement from participants.
Eco-Packaging Conference
Organizers: Itega, CRIBIQ, Innofibre
Dat : April 2025
For the second consecutive year, the Eco-Innov Centre was invited to participate in a panel addressing current packaging challenges and possible adaptation strategies within the ecosystem.
Americana
Organizer: Réseau Environnement
Date: March 2025
At this major event, Michel Bourassa delivered a conference calling on businesses to play an active role in transforming their industries through concrete and responsible actions.
Food, Packaging and the Fight Against Food Waste
Organizer: CTAQ
Date: October 2024
In the context of new single-use plastic regulations, the Eco-Innov Centre presented an overview of its outreach initiatives with businesses. This panel, led by Éco Entreprises Québec, highlighted the tangible impact of these efforts.
Roundtable – Annual Conference of the Quebec Convenience Store Association
Date: May 2024
In response to regulatory changes, the Eco-Innov Centre contributed to a roundtable aimed at clarifying issues related to single-use plastics and proposing perspectives that go beyond regulatory compliance.
