Sustainable Development | 18th Century Public Market

An eco-friendly event

For several years now, Pointe-à-Callière has been working to minimize the environmental impact of its must-attend Public Market of the 18th Century with the introduction of sustainable development initiatives. Through its awareness actions, the Museum is also attempting to have a positive influence on the public, exhibitors, artists, craftspeople, partners, and volunteers who take part in the event.

Explore several of our actions below and learn how you too can help make Pointe-à-Callière’s Public Market an example of environmental responsibility!

Yesterday to tomorrow, building bridges between generations

The Public Market has always—over the course of a weekend—aimed to build bridges between the past and the present by providing a space for the sharing and transference of traditional know-how and sometimes age-old ancestral practices. It is in this spirit of intergenerational transference and preservation that—every summer—thousands of people are invited to take an incredible journey through time, while taking steps for future generations.

In 2024, when the Market welcomed 78,000 people, 96% of the materials produced during the event were diverted from landfill. Can we meet the challenge of doing even better in 2025?

A few of our actions!

In 2018, Pointe-à-Callière’s flagship summer event made a green shift.
For each edition, the team has:

• Pursued a “zero paper” policy;

• Set up waste sorting stations (trash/recycling/composting) and do an efficient waste sorting thanks to a dedicated team;

• Used sustainable, reusable, and compostable décor to limit our ecological footprint;

• Donated unsold edible products to Accueil Bonneau;

• Deployed a “green team” to provide guidance, advice, and raise awareness among visitors and exhibitors;

• Prohibit the use of single-use plastic items and integrate returnable ecocups to limit the amount of waste on site;

• The donation of residual materials to Les Affûtés;

• The production of a “eco-friendly guide” for exhibitors, partners, and volunteers;

• The calculation and review of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions produced by all our teams and visitors. For the first year, 100% of the emissions generated by our teams and suppliers will be offset through the purchase of “carbon credits” in support of Carbone boréal’s research and planting project;

• Focused on the showcasing and sales of local, artisanal, and sustainable products… as was the case at the market in the 18th century!

Always striving to do better, we have continued to incorporate new practices. Starting in 2025, a few new initiatives will be added to those mentioned above, such as:

• Improve the physical and sensory accessibility of the event through certification and evaluation by Kéroul. For more information on this subject, please refer to our Accessibility page;

• Extend the calculation of our GHG emissions to include emissions generated by waste materials and participants' consumption of drinking water during the Market;

• Create a station for visitors to offset their GHG emissions through an eco-cup collection game;

• Offset 100% of the emissions produced by the transportation of teams and suppliers, as well as the waste generated during the Public Market;

• Donate the money from deposits to Valoristes, a solidarity cooperative;

• Provide a vegetarian, zero-waste buffet for event teams and volunteers;

• Reduce the amount of waste on site and increase composting and recycling to further reduce final waste.

It’s your turn to act!

Are you planning to attend the Public Market? The Museum is encouraging you to take a few simple steps to help our efforts to reduce waste and GHGs (greenhouse gases).

• Use active transportation or public transit to get here.

• Bring your water bottle! There are water fountains for you to use on-site.

• Sort your waste at sorting stations: recyclable, compostable, and disposable material, as well as eco-cups. Not sure what goes where? Ask a member of our on-site “green team.”

• Would you like to offset your transportation-related GHG emissions? Come visit our team and participate in our game.

Do you have any good ideas that would help make our event even more eco-friendly? Write to us at [email protected]