Government

The quiet city of Terrebonne, Quebec, northeast of Montréal on the St. Lawrence River doesn’t often make national headlines. However, two new innovative projects have put Terrebonne in the news as a green focal point in Quebec and beyond.

One is a proposal for an industrial park that could be the first of its kind in North America.

In 2021, the City of Terrebonne purchased two properties totalling 18 acres near a local landfill, hoping to encourage the development of a new industrial park that would not only bring jobs to the region but would operate under high environmental standards. The city began looking for investors willing to take on their vision.

The potential of the site, local talent pool and existing infrastructure caught the attention of Quebec furniture manufacturer and retailer Marimac Group. The company formed a joint venture with ecological and French environmental infrastructure experts the Tellos Group. Their proposal is one of several being considered by the city.

Tellos is an independent, family-run group operating in France and internationally, well known for its success at developing and managing a range of services for the building of cities and towns of the future.

If selected, the plan proposed by Marimac and Tellos is to model the Terrebonne park after Tellos’ breakthrough facility called Axioparc located near Strasbourg, France. It’s a very unique approach to industrial park development.

Axioparc goes beyond the mere providing of industrial space. Notably, social amenities complement the preservation of biodiversity and natural surrounds. In fact, one third of Axioparc is reserved for green space and relaxation areas, essential to making the park an attractive place to work.

There is also the objective to be as energy self-sufficient as possible.

For example, Axioparc has its own heating network powered by a biomass boiler room, large areas of solar arrays and a green hydrogen production facility for future use. Tellos calls Axoiparc, “a real economic lung in the region, a project which promises to breathe new life into the ambitions of entrepreneurs.”

Non-exclusive discussions between the City of Terrebonne, the Marimac/Tellos joint venture and other interested developers are ongoing regarding the operation of the park, allocation of space for industrial purposes and preservation of existing wetlands and forest areas at the site.

Selection of the developer and the design of the park could be complete this year, with occupancy as early as 2026.

The other green initiative is a 29-storey high-end rental apartment complex, first in Canada for its combination of LEED standards with the relatively new Zero Carbon Building certifications, in addition to several WELL certification criteria.

It rises on a prominent location near the junction of Highways 640 and 40 near the shore of the St. Lawrence.

Symbio Habitat Terrebonne was envisioned back in 2019 by Denis Tremblay, president of Développement FTG, and partner, financial analyst Étienne Chabot.

Key to the project is Maxime Frappier of ACDF Architecture. Frappier’s design of Haleco in Montréal was a winner in the 2019 Reinventing Cities international competition. Early in the project’s conception, Frappier brought in other accredited specialists in environmental certification and energy efficiency.

Material procurement meeting the various certification criteria while also being visually attractive has not been an easy task for the project team, Josée Lupien, president of Vertima, a pioneer in sustainable construction in Quebec, told local media.

In fact, building carbon-neutral, multi-residential buildings anywhere in Quebec is difficult due to seasonal temperature variations.

Materials were required to meet codes, of course. Paying strict attention to their low-VOC emission properties and thermal resistance, yet still being durable and relatively easy to build was also critical, while staying within budget.

Ivanhoé Cambridge, the real estate arm of the Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec, and private investment company Claridge, are financing half of the $76 million project. The complex is expected to be completed in May 2024. Occupancy of rental suites ranging from studios to three-bedroom units will follow shortly after.

John Bleasby is a Coldwater, Ont.-based freelance writer. Send comments and Inside Innovation column ideas to editor@dailycommercialnews.com.

Modernization of METRO's distribution network in Quebec and Ontario

MONTREAL, Nov. 8, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, METRO Inc. ("METRO") (TSX: MRU) opens its new automated distribution centre for fresh and frozen products in Terrebonne. This new, modern infrastructure is the result of a substantial investment program, valued at nearly 1 billion dollars, aimed at modernizing METRO's distribution network in Quebec and Ontario to meet the expectations of its customers even better, and its merchant and pharmacist owners, now and in the future.

The inauguration of this new centre marks a significant milestone for METRO and reaffirms the prominent economic role that the company plays in Quebec, especially through the investment of over $420 million in its Quebec distribution network and the tens of thousands of jobs it provides across the province.

"Our new automated distribution centre in Terrebonne represents the future of METRO's fresh and frozen product distribution in Quebec," said Eric La Flèche, President and Chief Executive Officer of METRO Inc. "It will strengthen our market position, generate new opportunities for our company and employees, and enable us to remain competitive while pursuing our growth."

With a total surface area of over 600,000 square feet, the equivalent of more than 10 football fields, the nine-storey high building houses two distinct temperature-controlled zones for some 7,000 fresh and frozen products.

"Our new automated distribution centre will help improve the quality of service and products sent to grocery stores, thanks to greater order accuracy and reduced handling time, as well as improving the resilience of our supply chain," stated Caroline Larocque, Vice President Logistics and Distribution, Quebec. "We are now even better equipped to provide the right product, at the right time, to the right store, and to do so efficiently." The centre will thus promote a better customer experience by offering even more products and variety.

Several specialized Quebec companies have contributed to this ambitious project, including general contractor Divco, Aubin Pélissier for the refrigeration system, and GKC Architectes as principal consultant. In terms of automation, the centre uses technology from Witron, a German Company and an international leader in automation in the food distribution sector, with whom METRO already works in Ontario. The automated system will deliver efficiency gains that will translate into better service to some 700 food stores served by the centre.

MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2023 / Loop Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:LOOP) (the "Company" or "Loop"), a clean technology company whose mission is to accelerate a circular plastics economy by manufacturing 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate ("PET") plastic and polyester fiber, hosted Franck Leroy, President of the Grand Est region in France, for a tour of their facility in Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada. The visit signifies an important step in Loop Industries' collaboration with strategic partners SK Geo Centric and SUEZ, as they prepare to construct a commercial manufacturing facility in Saint-Avold, in the Grand Est region of France, to deploy Loop's technology in the European market.

The Saint-Avold commercial manufacturing facility, which has a planned annual capacity 70,000 metric tonnes, will manufacture 100% recycled and infinitely recyclable virgin-quality Loop™ PET resin out of low value PET plastic and polyester fiber waste, and could save over 255,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, when compared to virgin PET resin made from fossil fuels¹. The facility is anticipated to begin construction in 2025, with plant commissioning to follow in 2027.

The decision to establish a commercial manufacturing facility in France was driven by several key factors including its rich collaborative landscape, with major brands such as Danone, L'Occitane en Provence, and L'Oréal championing sustainability and local recycling efforts. This ecosystem provides a strong foundation for Loop to work hand-in-hand with industry leaders committed to sustainable practices. Additionally, France's unwavering commitment to environmental protection and recycling make it an ideal location to deploy Loop's technology. Loop's innovative technology can play a pivotal role in achieving the sustainability goals of brands and aligns perfectly with the nation's vision for a circular economy.

"The Grand Est region is particularly proud to support the establishment of Loop Industries on its territory, in association with SUEZ and SK Geo Centric. By visiting Loop's production facility in Terrebonne, our delegation was able to demonstrate its keen interest in the innovative technology, and to exchange views with Daniel Solomita and his teams. Our discussions enabled us to set the next milestones and ensure that this first industrial unit will be set up in Europe at a steady pace. This considerable investment, which will create new jobs, represents a further decisive step in the environmental transition of the Saint-Avold Carling chemical platform in eastern France. The challenge is simple: the environment creates jobs and reindustrializes our regions, and we want to become the benchmark region for the circular economy, thanks to major players such as Loop, Suez and SK Geo Centric," emphasizes Franck Leroy, President of the Grand Est region.

"We are honored to welcome President Leroy to our facilities and to showcase Loop's innovative technology firsthand." said Loop Founder and CEO Daniel Solomita. "We are delighted to expand our operations in France and to support the sustainability goals of European-based global brands by providing our virgin-quality, 100% recycled Loop™ PET resin. With the support of our strategic partners and the Grand Est region, we are confident in our ability to accelerate the commercialization of Loop's technology and drive transformative change."

The visit of Mr. Franck Leroy highlights the significance of this project for the Grand Est region and for the global circular plastics economy. Loop Industries is excited to forge ahead with the construction of the commercial manufacturing facility in Saint-Avold, ushering in a new era of sustainable PET production throughout Europe. The company remains dedicated to its mission of ending the cycle of PET plastic and polyester fiber waste and accelerating a circular, sustainable economy.

¹ Based on latest LCA from March 2022, data is compared to Virgin PET made from dimethyl terephthalate (DMT).

About Loop Industries

Loop Industries is a technology company whose mission is to accelerate the world's shift toward sustainable PET plastic and polyester fiber and away from our dependence on fossil fuels. Loop Industries owns patented and proprietary technology that depolymerizes no and low-value waste PET plastic and polyester fiber, including plastic bottles and packaging, carpets and textiles of any color, transparency or condition and even ocean plastics that have been degraded by the sun and salt, to its base building blocks (monomers). The monomers are filtered, purified and polymerized to create virgin-quality Loop™ branded PET resin suitable for use in food-grade packaging and polyester fiber, thus enabling our customers to meet their sustainability objectives. Loop™ PET plastic and polyester fiber can be recycled infinitely without degradation of quality, successfully closing the plastic loop. Loop Industries is contributing to the global movement towards a circular economy by reducing plastic waste and recovering waste plastic for a sustainable future.

Common shares of the Company are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "LOOP."

For more information, please visit www.loopindustries.com. Follow Loop on Twitter: @loopindustries, Instagram: loopindustries, Facebook: Loop Industries and LinkedIn: Loop Industries

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "should," "could," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or "continue" the negative of such terms or similar words. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about Loop's market opportunity, its strategies, ability to improve and expand its capabilities, competition, expected activities and expenditures as Loop pursues its business plan, the adequacy of its available cash resources, regulatory compliance, plans for future growth and future operations, the size of Loop's addressable market, market trends, and the effectiveness of Loop's internal control over financial reporting. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Loop's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with among other things: (i) commercialization of our technology and products, (ii) our status of relationship with partners, (iii) development and protection of our intellectual property and products, (iv) industry competition, (v) our need for and ability to obtain additional funding relative to our current and future financial commitments, (vi) engineering, contracting, and building our manufacturing facilities, (vii) our ability to scale, manufacture, and sell our products in order to generate revenues, (viii) our proposed business model and our ability to execute thereon, (ix) adverse effects on the Company's business and operations as a result of increased regulatory, media, or financial reporting scrutiny, practices, rumors, or otherwise, (x) disease epidemics and other health-related concerns and crises, which could result in reduced access to capital markets, supply chain disruptions and scrutiny, embargoing of goods produced in affected areas, government-imposed mandatory business closures and any resulting furloughs of our employees, government employment subsidy programs, travel restrictions or the like to prevent the spread of disease, or market or other changes that could result in non-cash impairments of our intangible assets, and property, plant and equipment, (xi) the effect of the continuing worldwide macroeconomic uncertainty and its impacts, including inflation, market volatility and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange and interest rates, (xii) the outcome of any SEC investigations or class action litigation filed against us, (xiii) our ability to hire and/or retain qualified employees and consultants, (xiv) other events or circumstances over which we have little or no control, and (xv) other factors discussed in Loop's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). More detailed information about Loop and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in Loop's filings with the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. Loop assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For More Information:

Investor Relations: Kevin C. O'Dowd, Vice-President Communications & Investor Relations Loop Industries, Inc. +1 617-755-4602 [email protected]

Media Inquiries: Andrea Kostiuk, Vice-President Marketing & Communications Loop Industries, Inc. +1 (450) 951-8555 [email protected]