25 years of circular economy: 2M Resources diverts over one million tonnes of glass from landfills

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, August 23, 2024 – 2M Resources, a pioneering Quebec-based company in the circular economy, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1999, 2M Resources has achieved the remarkable feat of diverting over one million tonnes of glass from Quebec landfills, redirecting it toward remanufacturing. In doing so, it has established itself as a key partner in helping the government meet its environmental targets.

“Reaching the 25-year milestone marks a crowning achievement for 2M Resources, which was born out of my desire to create lasting change. Our business model has always been grounded in the principles of the circular economy: we work actively to reintegrate every material we receive into the value chain—both the container and its contents. I’m proud to have a team with heart and drive, always ready to follow me in bold ideas for the sake of sustainable development,” said Michel Marquis, founding president of 2M Resources.

2M Resources’ success is largely due to its expertise and technological innovations, particularly in the processing of recycled glass. Thanks to this know-how, the company produces high-quality glass ready to be remelted and turned into new bottles and insulation wool. Every tonne of glass processed by 2M Resources is reintegrated into the value chain, making the Quebec-based company a preferred partner for businesses mindful of their environmental footprint.

Strategic Partnerships
The success of 2M Resources also lies in the strategic partnerships it has built over the years—relationships that have played a crucial role in fulfilling its mission. One such partnership is the exclusive agreement with Nespresso for coffee capsule recycling in Quebec, a prime example of the company’s commitment to circularity. Through this collaboration, 2M Resources ensures that every capsule used by Quebecers is fully recovered: the coffee grounds are sent for biomethanation to be converted into energy, while the aluminum—a material infinitely recyclable like glass—is also recycled.

Additionally, the company works closely with various clients to destroy and recover expired or defective containers. This process not only enables full material recovery for recycling, but also converts liquids into renewable energy through biomethanation. 2M Resources is one of the only companies in Quebec that ensures 100% of the liquids recovered from destroyed products are sent to local businesses specializing in biomethanation.

Environmental Impact & Key Figures:

• Since 1999, 2M Resources has diverted over one million tonnes of glass from Quebec landfills
• Since 2021, over 14 million cases of beer have passed through 2M Resources’ facility for processing
• In 2023 alone, more than 8,000 metric tonnes of liquid were sent for biomethanation—equivalent to over 3 Olympic-sized swimming pools
• Approximately 80,000 tonnes of glass are processed annually at the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu facility
• 2M Resources ensures 100% of liquids recovered from product destruction are sent for biomethanation
• Each year, 2M Resources processes 5,000 tonnes of used Nespresso capsules—equivalent to about 310 million coffees

– 30 –