Canada, November 9, 2022 – Circular Innovation Council today announced the launch of the Net-Zero Mission: Clean and Circular Innovation Marketplace at this year’s United Nations COP27 Climate Change Conference. Developed in collaboration with MaRS Discovery District as part of the Mission from MaRS: Net Zero program, the clean and circular innovation marketplace is designed to break down barriers to public procurement to encourage wide-scale adoption of low-carbon solutions.

“The climate crisis has been recognized by all levels of government across Canada, but action has been slow,” says Jo-Anne St. Godard, Executive Director of Circular Innovation Council. “Governments collectively spend 200 billion dollars on goods and services every year making up 13.4 % of GDP, but the current way of buying is disconnected with carbon reduction commitments.  Public procurement is a powerful but underutilized tool that can be used right now to transition the market to deliver results.”

The Clean and Circular Innovation Marketplace demonstrates Circular Innovation Council’s plan to level the playing field for low-carbon products and increasing the flow of funding to climate tech and circular innovators. This phase includes the creation and launch of an online marketplace and other digital resources to support governments and communities of all sizes in Canada to achieve national carbon reduction and circular economy goals.

“This new mission and its marketplace aim to de-risk the current traditional and limiting procurement process. By connecting government policy objectives and procurement actions with cleantech and circular innovators we can improve entrance and growth opportunities and accelerate market transition,” adds St. Godard.

The Clean and Circular Innovation Marketplace will connect both public and private sector buyers with innovative solutions providers and provide a series of procurement resources to help all levels of government and local communities to more easily identify and acquire these low carbon and circular goods and services. In tandem with the Marketplace, an Adoption-Ready Certification Program will be guided by strict conditions to ensure solution providers are prequalified.