Sustainable Development | 18th Century Public Market

An Event Driving Socio-Ecological Transition

For several years now, Pointe-à-Callière has been working to advance the socio-ecological transition of its iconic 18th Century Public Market by implementing sustainable development initiatives. Through awareness-raising efforts, the Museum also seeks to positively influence the public, exhibitors, artists, artisans, 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 and 100% of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by our teams' travel in connection with this event have been offset. Can we meet the challenge of doing even better in 2026?

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/compost), ensure efficient waste sorting with a dedicated team, and conduct an assessment of our waste;

• 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. In 2025, we offset all emissions generated by our teams and suppliers by purchasing “carbon credits” to support the local Compensation CO2 Québec project. Fifteen trees were planted as a result of this initiative!;

• For the 2025 edition, new measures have been implemented, and we have worked to improve physical and sensory accessibility in collaboration with Kéroul. We obtained Kéroul certification, and the event was rated as “partially accessible.”

• Responsible Sourcing: Aware of our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we strive to select our exhibitors and suppliers from within a maximum radius of 150 km of the Museum. Specifically, in 2025, only 10 out of 62 suppliers were located more than 150 km from the Museum, and 18 suppliers were located less than 25 km away. The total average distance for all suppliers was 73 km.

• 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 2026, a few new initiatives will be added to those mentioned above, such as:

• Continue our efforts to improve the event’s physical and sensory accessibility. For more information on this topic, please visit our Accessibility page.

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]