Environmental Responsibility
For over ten years now, MUTEK has been taking concrete actions to reduce our environmental impact
Constantly learning, it is our responsibility to keep exploring the tools, opinions, and options available to us in order to continue in this direction and pursue our development as a responsible event.
In 2021, our transition has accelerated, thanks to the involvement of committed audiences, an action plan, an eco-conscious production team and a network of eco-responsible partners.
In 2022, approximately 74% of the waste collected was recycled, composted, and diverted from landfills
Each year, MUTEK takes steps to reduce the amount of waste produced during the festival by:
- Packaging the food offer in reusable, recyclable, or compostable dishes,
- Reusing certain outdoor signage every edition since 2017,
- Distributing our Ecocups at all Festival and Forum venues,
- Removing all single-use plastics from the premises,
- Reducing the number of printed materials for communications,
- using compostable, recyclable or reusable containers and cutlery,
- Counting on the cooperation of the public, artists, and speakers,
- Providing free water points in the different rooms of the festival, in the dressing room, and on the outdoor stage.
In order to improve waste management methods, we worked with the company Echo-logique for waste collection, sorting, recycling, composting, and deposit collection. Green Team volunteers supported public awareness of these measures. Thanks to our partner ACT (Artistes Citoyens en Tournée), our artist rooms were certified eco-responsible.
Vivats Prize
In 2021 and 2022, MUTEK was a finalist for the Vivats Grand Prize, which recognizes eco-responsible events in Québec, and won the RECYC-QUÉBEC prize in Responsable Waste Management in 2021.
A waste management plan for each Festival and Forum venue is created each year, including waste, recycling, and compost collection.
Life cycle project: a commitment
MUTEK is part of the very first Écoleader cohort, a group of cultural organizations aiming to evaluate the environmental impact of their event using a life cycle approach. This project is carried out by the AGECO Group, as well as the Réseau des femmes en environnement and its Conseil québécois des événements écoresponsables (CQEER).
"We are on-site at MUTEK Montreal today as part of the project "Assessing the footprint of events using a life cycle approach", carried out in collaboration with the AGÉCO Group thanks to funding from the Écoleader Fund. The objective is to accompany the MUTEK team in the collection of data related to, among other things, procurement, food, waste management, and transportation. Stay tuned for more news on this great project!"
- Amandine Gourchette & Chloe Gagnon Champigny
PLANETAIR certificates (2020 - 2022)
Since 2011, MUTEK has been committed to offsetting its greenhouse gas emissions with the Planetair association for its reforestation project in Québec. In 2021, with the help of contributions from the public that we have matched, we have offset 130.72 tons of CO2 in 2021, an increase of 45% compared to 2019.
In 2021 we were able to collect over more than 1500$ in donations. This amount was doubled by MUTEK, totaling a $3000 donation.
In 2022, MUTEK contributed 1% of the final price of each passport, pass and ticket to Planetair, the sum of which was increased by public contributions, allowing us to offset a total of 118.39 tons of CO2. Along with this contribution, a valued contribution by our partner Air Canada helped us compensate a total of 201 tons of CO2.
Planetair is an initiative of the UNISFERA International Centre, a Canadian not-for-profit organization founded in 2002.
Supporting the local and responsible economy
MUTEK supports the responsible and circular economy by:
- Hiring caterers that use local and organic products, such as Petites-Mains and Nilufar, which respectively support with social reintegration and favor vegan products,
- Local printing to limit transportation and support local businesses, on recycled paper with biodegradable ink, certified FSC Forest Stewardship Council,
- Manufacturing MUTEK derivative products in Quebec and Canada entrusted to manufacturers who have an ethical and responsible charter. In 2022, we developed a merch collection designed, produced and printed entirely in Québec in collaboration with emerging artists: t-shirts and a hoodie from the unionized local manufacturer C'est Beau, made from organic and recycled materials, as well as a tote-bag from Petites-Mains, an integration company for immigrant women,
- Providing local beverages: Dieu du Ciel! microbrewery, Le Seltzer drinks, Club Local spirit and soft drinks Zamalek,
- Partnerships with independent hotels and restaurants in Montreal demonstrating sustainable initiatives.
In 2022, 95% of the production equipment came from local suppliers, within 25km of the event site.
ICI On Recycle
Since 2017, MUTEK has been recognized by RECYC-QUÉBEC as a certified establishment under the ICI on recycle program, and since 2019, under the ICI on recycle + Level 2 program.
Our efforts to reduce waste at source and manage residual materials are made possible by the support of our partner RECYC-QUÉBEC. Thanks to RECYC-QUÉBEC, every year we can proudly dedicate ourselves to the adoption of better environmental management practices.
Photographic credits in chronological order:
Studio Everywhen (Brad Necyk x Jonathan Kawchuk) — ALL SKY, MIRROR OCEAN. | MUTEK Virtual
Salomé Perli | MUTEK Montréal 2022 | © Bruno Destombe
esplanade Tranquille | MUTEK Montréal 2022 | ©Vivien Gaumand
