The CIRAIG in the media
This section entitled CIRAIG in the news presents articles that have been published in the press which cite the CIRAIG or present CIRAIG activities. Radio interviews are also included.
Print media
Television
Radio interviews
Webzines
Print media
2008
Cyberpresse, October 30, 2008
Ton sapin est-il bio?
Which Christmas tree is best? A plastic one or a natural tree? CIRAIG experts weigh in (in French).
QuébecScience, October 22, 2008
Le cycle écolo
Catherine Dubé - L’envers des choses column
Each month, the magazine examines the environmental impacts of a consumer item. This month’s column includes a profile of the cradle-to-grave approach in LCA.
Infopresse.com, September 9, 2008
Rona-Éco : ne pas prendre les consommateurs pour des idiots
Sophie Lachapelle
Lisa Lemay, the director of private brands and ready-to-renovate items at RONA, explains the strategy behind the RONA ECO products, which introduce the concept of LCA. The article contains a description of the process coordinated by the CIRAIG.
Protégez-vous, August 28, 2008
Ampoules fluocompactes : bien, mais...
Pierre Duchesneau
A study conducted in collaboration with the Interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services (CIRAIG) of École Polytechnique de Montréal for Hydro-Québec concludes that, overall, the widespread use of compact fluorescent bulbs “remains the most relevant environmental option given Québec’s energy context.”
La Presse, August 25, 2008
Les ampoules fluocompactes plus vertes
Martin Croteau
An article in which CIRAIG coordinator Édouard Clément is cited following the release of the LCA study on compact fluorescent light bulbs conducted by the CIRAIG for Hydro-Québec.
Le Nouvelliste (Trois-Rivières), August 25, 2008
Plus écologiques après tout
Martin Croteau
An article in which CIRAIG coordinator Édouard Clément is cited following the release of the LCA study on compact fluorescent light bulbs conducted by the CIRAIG for Hydro-Québec.
Magazine PME, June 2008
De l'art de manger un éléphant vert
Yan Barcelo
CANAL D, May 1st, 2008
Le cycle de vie
ÉCO-SOLUTIONS
A report on life cycle assessment in which CIRAIG executive director Daniel Normandin provides examples of real-life choices that can reduce our environmental impacts.
Protégez-vous, May 2008
Remi Maillard
What are the environmental impacts of the goods we consume? Thanks to life cycle assessment, manufacturers are now able to tell us.
Découvrir, April-May, 2008
Le social fait son entrée dans l'analyse du cycle de vie
La Presse, April 13, 2008
An increasing number of businesses are going green. Should we be on the lookout for charlatans trying to profit from citizens’ goodwill? The journalist recommends caution but highlights RONA’s collaboration with the Life Cycle Assessment Chair to launch its new line of RONA ECO products.
Vision durable, March 20,2008
Les mains - et la conscience - propres
Alexis Beauchamps
Of the hand dryer or the paper towel, which is the more environmentally friendly option? The CIRAIG discusses the conclusions of a study carried out by a third-party on the two hand-drying options that are most commonly available in public restrooms. Of the hand dryer or the paper towel, which is the more environmentally friendly option? The CIRAIG discusses the conclusions of a study carried out by a third-party on the two hand-drying options that are most commonly available in public restrooms.
La Presse, February 3, 2008
Fabriqués pour mourir
Jacinthe Tremblay
An article on planned obsolescence: the tendency of manufacturers to design products with increasingly limited service lives. Is this practice necessarily detrimental? CIRAIG executive director Daniel Normandin discusses the issue.
Protégez-vous, February 2008
Un ordinateur en carton
Remi Maillard
The Éco-conso column in collaboration with Professor Sylvain Plouffe of the École de design industriel (Université de Montréal); includes an illustration of a computer with a screen made of paper!
La Presse, January 9, 2008
Tendances 2008: construction verte à la carte
Gilles Anger
Green construction will not have a significant impact on the sector in 2008. However, “green” is gaining ground in Québec. In fact, in spring 2008, RONA will determine its most environmentally friendly products, from paints to cleaning products and materials, in collaboration with the International Chair in Life Cycle Assessment of École Polytechnique de Montréal.
Protégez-vous, January 2008
Les fluocompactes en 10 questions
Are compact fluorescents really ecological? Can they be used everywhere? What is the best wattage? What type of light do the bulbs generate? This article contains the answers to all of your questions!
2007
Les Affaires, December 1st, 2007
La métropole demande un milliard de dollars à Québec
Hugo Joncas
CIRAIG analyst Geneviève Martineau has written a report on the environmental impacts of the various scenarios proposed by SNC-Lavalin.
Protégez-vous, December 1st, 2007
Sont-elles aussi écologiques, économiques ?
The Interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services is currently studying the life cycles of compact fluorescent and incandescent bulbs.
PME, December 1st, 2007
5 fleurons du développement durable
Dominique Forget
Large businesses aren’t the only ones working towards sustainability. This article presents five SMEs who are doing their part.
Le Soleil, November 24, 2007
Gamme verte chez Rona
This spring, RONA stores will launch the RONA ECO line of products for environmentally-concerned customers. In order to do so, the renovations giant collaborated with the International Chair on Life Cycle Assessment of École Polytechnique de Montréal.
La Presse, November 24, 2007
Bac vert
Isabelle AUDET
This spring, RONA stores will launch the RONA ECO line of products for environmentally-concerned customers. In order to do so, the renovations giant collaborated with the International Chair on Life Cycle Assessment of École Polytechnique de Montréal.
Les Affaires, November 24, 2007
Rénovation écolo : la compétition s'intensifie entre Home Depot et RONA
Alexis Beauchamp
Québec home renovations retailer RONA has answered Home Depot, which, for the past year, has been increasing its sustainable development advertizing. Among its many initiatives, RONA will collaborate with the International Chair in Life Cycle Assessment of École Polytechnique to produce the greenest renovation products available on the market.
Vision durable, November 24, 2007
Rénovation écolo : la compétition s'intensifie entre Home Depot et RONA
Alexis Beauchamp
Les Affaires, November 12, 2007
RONA lance sa marque de produits ultra écolos
Alexis Beauchamp
RONA and the CIRAIG work together to develop products with ecological life cycles.
YAHOO – Finance, November 9, 2007
RONA Unveils New Eco-Responsible Initiatives and Partners with International life cycle assessment chair
Canada's largest distributor and retailer of hardware, home renovation and gardening products, unveiled a series of eco-responsible initiatives at its 2008 Spring Tradeshow, including its participation in the International Life Cycle Assessment Chair, a research unit of the Interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services (CIRAIG), Canada's most important research centre in the field.
B-NET – The to go place for managementInterfaceFlor, November 9, 2007
RONA Unveils New Eco-Responsible Initiatives and Partners with International life cycle assessment chair
Canada's largest distributor and retailer of hardware, home renovation and gardening products, today unveiled a series of "eco-responsibility" initiatives at its 2008 Spring Tradeshow, including it’s Participation in the International Life Cycle Assessment Chair, a research unit of the Interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services (CIRAIG), Canada's most important research centre in this field.
Les Affaires, November 3, 2007
LUCAS : Pour une analyse du cycle de vie bien canadienne
Alexis Beauchamps
The Interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services (CIRAIG) of École Polytechnique de Montréal is working to develop a recognized Canadian LCA method.
La Presse, November 2, 2007
Hydro-Québec attend une étude
Charles Côté
Earlier this year, Hydro-Québec commissioned a study on the pollution attributable to the landfilling of compact fluorescent light bulbs, which contain small amounts of mercury. The study was conducted by life cycle experts at École Polytechnique de Montréal.
Canal Argent (Canoe.ca), November 2, 2007
Hydro-Québec s'informe de la pollution attribuable aux ampoules fluocompactes
Hydro-Québec is awaiting the results of a study on the pollution attributable to the landfilling of compact florescent bulbs, which contain small amounts of mercury. The study was conducted by life cycle experts at École Polytechnique de Montréal and should be completed very shortly.
TQS Télévision, November 2, 2007
Hydro-Québec s'informe de la pollution attribuable aux ampoules fluocompactes
Russel Ducasse
A report by Russel Ducasse on compact fluorescent bulbs and a mention of the study commissioned by Hydro-Québec and conducted by the CIRAIG.
Le Devoir - Économie, November 24, 2007
L'analyse du cycle de vie, un argument pour le développement durable
Éric Desrosiers
The increasing use of assessments to examine the life cycles of goods and services could be more effective than climate change scare tactics in motivating businesses to become more concerned with sustainable development. CIRAIG executive director Daniel Normandin discusses the issue.
Le Réseau d'information municipale, November 24, 2007
Vive les ACV! Du berceau au tombeau...
François Thiboutôt
A column on life cycle assessment. The author is a journalist and a responsible consumption and environmental consultant.
Novae.ca, September 272007
L'analyse du cycle de vie à l'honneur
Cycle 2007, which will be held in Montréal next month by the CIRAIG, will examine the various applications of life cycle assessment.
Protégez-vous, August 1st, 2007
Marketing: La vague verte
Rémi Maillard
Businesses in all sectors are beginning to ride the green wave, each claiming to be more ecological than the next. But who’s really green? Protégez-Vous examines this new trend.
Novae.ca, August 16, 2007
L'agenda du développement durable
On October 22-23, 2007, the Canadian Forum on Life Cycle Management will be held by the CIRAIG at the Holiday Inn in Montréal.
Protégez-vous, July 1st, 2007
Environnement : Sacrées vaches
Rémi Maillard
According to a UN report, the livestock sector is currently the world’s second or third most polluting industry. The problem is not the cows themselves but the intensive breeding strategies and the fact that animals today are force-fed petroculture crops. Protégez-vous delves into the issue.
Les Affaires, 1er juin 2007
De l'art de manger un éléphant vert
Yan Barcelo
To establish a firm’s ecological footprint, consultant Emmanuelle Gehin favours a classic approach, believing that it is best to seek the help of life cycle experts at the Interuniversity Research Centre on the Life cycle of Products, Processes and Services (CIRAIG) or ellipsos, a consulting firm founded by a former member of the CIRAIG.
Les Affaires, May 12, 2007
Une chaire sur l'analyse du cycle de vie à Polytechnique
Alexis Beauchamp
Montréal confirms its status as a leader in the life cycle assessment field with the inauguration of a new research chair funded by ten industrial and financial partners from here and abroad. The Interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services (CIRAIG) will oversee the chair and become the second largest LCA-focussed group in the world.
Novae.ca, May 10, 2007
Une chaire en analyse de cycle de vie voit le jour
École Polytechnique de Montréal has created the Life Cycle Assessment Research Chair with the support of several businesses including Alcan, Cascades and Bell. The Chair will become a unit of the CIRAIG, the Interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services.
Les Affaires, February 17, 2007
Petit effort de PME, grand résultat
Separately, SMEs do not have a significant impact, but all of the garages, corner stores and small multimedia companies combined carry significant weight in the greenhouse gas emissions balance. CIRAIG executive director Daniel Normandin provides a few recommendations.
2006
The CIRAIG’s answer to an article appearing in La Presse on August 7, 2006, on a Hummer being greener than a Honda Civic Hybrid throughout its life cycle. Click here. (in French only)
L'Actualité, September 2006
L'ACV, clé du développement vraiment durable (LCA, the key to sustainable development)
Les Affaires, July 22, 2006
Retard québécois face à de nouvelles normes européennes (Quebec lags behind European standards)
Les Affaires, June 17, 2006
LES PHÉNIX DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT - Un hommage aux artisans du mieux-vivre (The PHÉNIX DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT – a tribute to artisans of better living)
Les Affaires, May 13, 2006
Un produit vert peut être sans cesse amélioré (A green product continually improved)
Étonnante, la science!, May 2006
Mettre à sac certains mythes (Busting a few myths)
La Presse, April 10, 2006
Un réseau d'affaires socialement responsable (A socially responsible corporate network)
La Presse, March 29, 2006
SACS RÉUTILISABLES, Une solution écolo ou un coup de marketing? (Reusable bags, an environmentally-friendly solution or a marketing trick ?)
Les Affaires, March 4, 2006
Emballage et développement durable : le CIRAIG, une ressource pouvant s'avérer utile (Packaging and sustainable developement : the CIRAIG, a resource that could be useful)
Virage environnemental (Environment Canada), March 2006
Les analyses de cycle de vie pour la mesure de la durabilité (Life cycle analysis for measuring durability)
Pluie de science (SPST), winter 2006
Une idée reçue : pour protéger l'environnement, il suffit d'acheter des produits recyclables (A common perception : buying recycled products is suffisant to protect the environment)
2005
Innovaction (Valorisation-Recherche Québec), December 2005
Le CIRAIG, un chef de file dans la gestion du cycle de vie des produits et services au Canada (The CIRAIG, a leader in life cycle management of products and services in Canada)
La Presse, December 11, 2005
Se passer de sapin? Pourquoi ne pas se contenter de décorer une plante d'intérieur? (Why have a fir tree ? Why not an indoor plant ?)
Les Affaires, November 5, 2005
L'analyse du cycle de vie, l'outil de gestion de l'avenir (Life cycle assessment, the management tool of the future)
Agence Science-Presse, November 5 , 2005
Développement durable: un outil pour les entreprises (Sustainable development : a tool for businesses)
Les Affaires, May, 14, 2005
Tenir compte de l'environnement avant de créer un produit (1. Taking the environment into account before conceiving a product)
Scruter les phases de vie du produit (Analyze the life cycle stages of a product)
Le Devoir, April 20, 2005
Bell et bien verte!
La Presse, March 14, 2005
Développement durable (Sustainable development)
2004
Sciences et vous, November 2004
Le développement durable prend place (Sustainable development is occuring)
Les Affaires, October 16, 2004
Le développement durable est aussi une question de génie (Sustainable development, also an engineering issue)
Manufacturiers et Exportateurs du Québec, June 23, 2004
Intéressé au marketing environnemental de vos produits? (Interested in the environmental marketing of your products?)
Agence Science-Presse, June 10, 2004
Nouveau frigo : préserver les aliments et... l'environnement (A new fridge : saving food… and the environment)
Découvrir, volume 25, Issue 2, March-April 2004
Les défis du développement durable (The challenges of sustainable development)
2003
Les Affaires, November 15, 2003
La vie des matériaux... "du berceau au tombeau" (The life of materials… “from cradle to gate”)
La Presse, August 4, 2003
Priorité à l'entrepreneur avec vision écologique (Entrepreneurs with ecological vision take precedence)
Le Soleil, August 4, 2003
Billets verts pour entrepreneurs verts (Green tickets for green entrepreneurs)
2002
La Presse, November 2, 2002
Des électroménagers à recycler (Electrical applicances to recycle)
La Presse, June 13, 2002
Sac papier ou sac plastique? (Paper or plastic bag?)
Le Forum, May 21, 2002
Pour voir la vie en vert (To see life through green coloured glasses)
Television
2008
November 19, 2008 (rebroadcast on November 20, 2008, at 12:30 p.m. and November 24, 2008, at 3 p.m.)
La vie en vert (Télé-Québec)
Can life cycle be taken into account when purchasing items? Eve Beaudin examines the question with CIRAIG technical coordinator Édouard Clément (in French).
October 27, 2008, 8pm
Le code Chastenay (Télé-Québec)
A small container of yogurt is put through a rigorous and scientific ecobalance. CIRAIG technical coordinator Édouard Clément explains the environmental impacts of the dairy product’s packaging (in French).
August 21, 2008, 6pm
Le Téléjournal (SRC Télévision)
An interview with Édouard Clément on Radio-Canada to discuss incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs. Mr. Clément led a study on household light bulbs conducted by the CIRAIG for Hydro-Québec (in French).
2007
Argent le matin (TVA - LE Canal Argent), May 10, 2007
An interview with CIRAIG executive director Daniel Normandin on the academic expertise of the research centre, with host François Gagnon (in French).
Broadcast on May 10, 2007 (10:06 a.m.)
Length: 4min 25
Dominique Poirier en direct (RDI), May 8, 2007
Journalist Jean-Sébastien Cloutier interviews CIRAIG professor and co-chairholder Réjean Samson on the evening news with Dominique Poirier. Commented by business journalist Gérald Filion (in French).
Broadcast May 8th at 6:32 p.m.
Length: 1 min. 10
L'Épicerie (SRC Télévision), May 2, 2007
An episode on food waste and polystyrene with Dr. Manuele Margni, a research agent at the CIRAIG (in French).
Watch the episode
Broadcast May 2, 2007, at 7:30 p.m.
Radio interviews
2008
La semaine verte (Radio-Canada), November 16, 2008
La facture écolo du mois
The first instalment of a monthly feature on the ecological footprints of consumer products. CIRAIG researcher Édouard Clément compares the footprints of desktop and laptop computers (in French)
Listen here.
Les années lumières (Radio-Canada), November 9, 2008, 12:15 p.m.
Génie et technologies - Limiter le pétrole
The first victim of the economic crisis, the American automobile industry is taking a beating and will have to learn to adapt as a Democrat-led administration in Washington is expected to stimulate the interest in the development of biotechnologies to limit American reliance on oil. Chantale Srivastava and Daniel Normandin of the CIRAIG discuss the issue (in French).
Listen here.
La semaine verte (Radio-Canada), August 31, 2008
The CIRAIG’s Édouard Clément and Benoît Barbeau, a professor of civil, geological and mining engineering at École Polytechnique, are interviewed as part of a report on the environmental costs of bottled water (in French).
Listen here.
2007
La semaine verte (Radio-Canada), October 28, 2007
Radio report by Julien Bilodeau on CYCLE 2007, the Canadian Life Cycle Assessment Forum organized by the CIRAIG. Broadcast at 6:30 a.m. and available online on Radio-Canada’s web site.
La semaine verte (Radio-Canada 95.1)
L'empreinte écologique scrutée à la loupe
Journalist Lionel Levac’s report on the launch of the International Industrial Life Cycle Assessment Chair. Live from École Polytechnique on a show hosted by Errol Duchaîne (in French).
Broadcast on May 26th between 6 and 7 a.m.
Available online on May 27th at 7:30 a.m.
2006
D'un soleil à l'autre (Radio-Canada), February 11, 2006
Une ville modèle. (A model city) Interview with Daniel Normandin.
2005
Les Années Lumières (Radio-Canada), September 25, 2005
Le cycle de vie des produits. (The life cycle of products) Interview with Daniel Normandin.
2004
Les Années Lumières (Radio-Canada), May 16, 2004
Le cycle de vie des produits. (The life cycle of products) Interview with Gontran Bage.
2003
Les Années Lumières (Radio-Canada), November 2003
Interview with Gontran Bage.
Les Années Lumières (Radio-Canada), October 2003
Interview with Daniel Normandin
2002
Les Années Lumières (Radio-Canada), December 8, 2002
« L'Éco-design » ou la conception d'objets « écologiquement corrects » (Ecodesign or the design of environmentally friendly objects)
Interview with Sylvain Plouffe (click on the link, and the microphone symbol).
Zone Sciences (Télé-Québec), October 12, 2002
Le cycle de vie des objets. (The life cycle of objects)
Interview with Louise Deschesnes, Sylvain Plouffe and Renée Michaud.
Webzines
2008
Faites un voeux pour la planète
A video of an interview with Daniel Normandin who expresses his wish for the planet as part of Earth Day activities (2:39 min.).
Novae, November 15, 2008
Une chaire en analyse de cycle de vie voit le jour
RONA and the new Life Cycle Assessment Research Chair founded this past spring by École Polytechnique will collaborate to assess RONA’s products. The company will implement specifications to determine the attributes on which it will base the green standards for each product category that it carries.
Novae, April 10, 2008
Rona : l'analyse de cycle de vie pour des produits responsables
RONA has launched the first products from its eco-responsible line based on life cycle assessment. Last November, RONA had announced its commitment to life cycle assessment (LCA), a process that makes it possible to determine the environmental profile of a product, taking its entire life cycle into account (raw materials extraction, production, transport, consumption, end-of-life management) and announced its collaboration with the CIRAIG, a research centre specializing in LCA at École Polytechnique de Montréal.
2007
Novae, November 15, 2007
Rona s’engage dans l'analyse du cycle de vie
RONA and the new Life Cycle Assessment Research Chair founded this past spring by École Polytechnique will collaborate to assess RONA’s products. The company will implement specifications to determine the attributes on which it will base the green standards for each product category that it carries.