AT REGARD WE LOVE ORANGE ... BUT WE ALSO THINK GREEN!
The BNQ standard for responsible event management (9700-253) defines and regulates eco-responsible practices through a classification system divided into 5 categories: the selection of suppliers, the selection of food, the selection of means of transport, the management of residual materials and the management of equipment, energy sources and water. We chose BNQ because it allows an objective verification of our practices.
In 2021, thanks to the eco-responsible efforts deployed during the Festival, we successfully reached level 3 of the BNQ standard. For 2024, we are focusing on consolidating our eco-responsible actions, aiming for level 3 once again.
To help and guide us in our efforts, we call on the Quebec Council for Eco-responsible Events (CQEER), which is supported by a committee of experts and benefits from a network of varied partners.
As a Festival, we are committed to
Affordable public transportation
→ Thanks to a collaboration with the Société de transport du Saguenay (STS), all festivalgoers have free access to public transport during the Festival;
→ Promoting a carpooling system through the Facebook group Covoiturage @ REGARD, and by simplifying the use of the carpooling platform AmigoExpress through the addition of a destination Festival Regard.
Eliminating the use of single-use plastic
→ Prioritizing the use of reusable products; if not feasible, opting for compostable or recyclable products;
→ Installation of water refill points at our sites to eliminate the use of single-use water bottles;
→ Selling eco-responsible promotional items – in collaboration with the coop Minuit moins cinq.
Ensuring the sorting of residual materials
→ Setting up waste-sorting stations (waste, recycling, compost and deposit) at several strategic locations;
→ Installing signage to facilitate the sorting of residual materials;
→ Setting up the Green Brigade to help festivalgoers with their sorting.
→ Rewarding eco-responsible actions and weighing our residual materials to evaluate the footprint of our Festival.
Drinking and eating locally
→ Developing partnerships with local producers;
→ Working with suppliers in the area for our food needs;
→ Promoting regional businesses to our guests and festivalgoers.
Rewarding festivalgoers, and eco-helping
→ Developing a reward system for the eco-responsible actions taken by our festivalgoers;
→ Making a donation to Carbone boréal, a local tree-planting organization, to off-set the greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted during the Festival;
As a festivalgoer, I commit to
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
→ Carpool to the Festival (Carpooling@REGARD);
→ Use free public transport offered by the Festival.
Limiting waste production
→ Download the REGARD app instead of using the printed brochures;
→ Bring reusable water bottles.
Recycling and composting
→ Take all waste to the sorting stations (biodegradable or recyclable);
→ Sort responsibly and ask for help from the Green Brigade if there are doubts;
→Make sure smokers use the cigarette butt collection stations.
If possible, go the extra mile
→ Participate in the riverbank clean-up event organised to offset the GHGs produced during the Festival ;
→ Make a donation to Carbone Boréal to plant trees. Trees are good ;
→ Encouraging our guests and festivalgoers to be mindful of their carbon footprint and motivating them to take action by offsetting the greenhouse emissions generated during the Festival, either fully or symbolically ;