What Écoscéno does

Écoscéno is a Montreal-based non-profit organization (OBNL) founded in October 2019 that accelerates the ecological transition of Quebec's cultural sector through ecodesign (écoconception) and circular economy (réemploi) services. It serves performing arts organizations (theatre, dance, circus), museums, festivals, and arts schools — operating across two service poles: an Ecodesign pole delivering professional training (priced per session for groups of 15 participants) and personalized consulting engagements, and a Reuse pole operating a physical 2,000 sq ft warehouse-boutique in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve paired with an online catalog and a free/paid material collection service.

Its core offering combines consulting (65 projects accompanied since 2020), training (125+ sessions delivered), and a materials reuse marketplace that has recirculated 244 tonnes of cultural-sector materials. Underlying the service is a proprietary methodology codified in three tools — an ecodesign checklist (Aide-mémoire de l'écoconception), a socio-ecological budget template (Budget socioécologique), and a circularity tracking dashboard (Tableau d'écoconception) — plus a Practical Ecodesign Guide for the Performing Arts co-developed with the Festival TransAmériques and multiple sector associations. The methodology has been recognized internationally at the Prague Quadrennial of Scenography 2023.

Écoscéno is funded primarily through multi-tier government grants (Canada Council for the Arts, CALQ, Conseil des arts de Montréal, Ville de Montréal) and private donations channeled through the Conseil des arts de Montréal's fiscal sponsorship program, supplemented by fee revenue from consulting, training, and boutique sales. The organization's leadership team is led by Executive Director and co-founder Anne-Catherine Lebeau, with two divisional directors for Ecodesign and Reuse, and a Board of Directors that includes senior figures from Cirque du Soleil, Festival TransAmériques, Place des Arts, and Théâtre Il va sans dire — providing deep institutional access within the Quebec cultural ecosystem.

Name

Écoscéno

Legal name

Écoscéno

Website

https://ecosceno.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Montreal-based non-profit accelerating the ecological transition of Quebec's cultural sector through ecodesign training, consulting, and a warehouse-boutique for materials reuse, serving theatres, dance companies, circus troupes, museums, and festivals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Sector Sustainability Consulting

akta.pro primary industry

Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO), Reuse & Resale / Recommerce Operations (EUAIANAC)

Keywords

• Circular economy consulting
• Ecodesign training
• Performing arts sustainability
• Materials reuse services
• Cultural sector decarbonization

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Écoconception Consulting (Accompagnement): Personalized consulting engagements where Écoscéno collaborates on creative projects from ideation to materials recirculation, integrating ecodesign principles for cultural productions. Since 2020, 65 projects have been accompanied.
2. Training Programs (Formations): Variety of ecodesign and sustainability courses offered to cultural institutions, delivered in-person or virtually, in French or English, priced per session for groups of 15 participants.
3. Materials Reuse Sales (Boutique): Warehouse-store operations selling reused materials from the cultural sector including accessories, set elements, construction materials, furniture, and scenic textiles. Materials are recirculated for new creative projects.
4. Materials Collection and Pickup Services: Free deposit of material donations at the warehouse; paid pickup service for donors who cannot transport materials themselves. Materials are then resold through the boutique.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Écoscéno is a Quebec non-profit organization that accelerates the ecological transition of the cultural sector through circular economy services. It delivers ecodesign training programs, personalized consulting for theatre, dance, circus, museum, and festival productions, and operates a physical warehouse-boutique plus online catalog that resells reusable set materials, costumes, accessories, and scenic textiles sourced from cultural organizations. The organization has supported 65 projects, delivered 125+ training sessions, and recirculated 244 tonnes of materials since 2020.

Product overview

Écoscéno is a non-profit organization accelerating the ecological transition in the cultural sector through circular economy approaches. The organization operates two main service poles: Ecodesign (Écoconception) offering training programs and consulting services, and Reuse (Réemploi) operating a warehouse-store for material circulation. Key offerings include ecodesign training courses, personalized consulting for creative projects, a material shop selling reusable cultural sector materials, and material collection services. The organization also provides practical tools including a comprehensive ecodesign guide for performing arts, an ecodesign checklist (Aide-mémoire), socioecological budget template, ecodesign tracking spreadsheet, and eco costume care guides.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formations en écoconception (Ecodesign Training) Professional training programs in ecodesign and sustainability tailored for the cultural sector, including general and specialized courses for theatre, circus, and museum professionals. Sessions are priced per group of 15 participants, available in French or English, and delivered in-person or virtually. Multiple institutions can pool together to share a session.
• Accompagnements en écoconception (Ecodesign Consulting) Personalized consulting engagements where Écoscéno collaborates with cultural organizations on creative projects from ideation to materials recirculation, integrating ecodesign principles to reduce environmental impact. Since 2020, 65 projects have been accompanied. Average reduction of at least 50% in greenhouse gas emissions per accompanied production.
• Boutique — Vente de matériaux (Material Shop) Warehouse-store selling reusable materials from the cultural sector including accessories, set elements, construction materials, furniture, and stage textiles. Physical warehouse-boutique open by appointment Monday to Thursday, without appointment on Friday. Online catalog available at boutique.ecosceno.org.
• Collecte de matériaux (Material Collection) Accepts donations of materials and set elements from cultural productions. Free drop-off at the warehouse by appointment; paid pickup service for donors who cannot transport materials themselves. Service emphasizes pooled logistics to minimize environmental impact. Materials are recirculated via the boutique.
• Guide pratique d'écoconception pour les arts vivants (Practical Ecodesign Guide for Performing Arts) Practical ecodesign guide for performing arts co-developed with FTA and multiple professional associations, providing actionable steps for sustainable production and accompanying artists and performing arts organizations in adopting concrete actions to reduce environmental impact and strengthen social outcomes.
• R.É.C.I.T.S. Cohort Program Strategic cohort program to integrate circularity into museum practices across Montreal institutions, co-developed with design firm Rümker and the Ville de Montréal.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 50%+ reduction in GHG emissions per accompanied cultural production
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DuceppecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey strategic partner: Écoscéno's first warehouse space was hosted within Duceppe's premises. Duceppe is the most frequently accompanied client, with at least 6 productions supported since 2020. Duceppe contributed to the sustainability charter development.
• Nouveau Théâtre Expérimental (NTE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontreal experimental theatre contributing to Écoscéno's sustainability charter development.
• TOHUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontreal circus venue and environmental showcase partner contributing to Écoscéno's sustainability charter and guide development.
• Groupe ParadoxeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner contributing to Écoscéno's sustainability charter development.
• Centre PhiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontreal cultural venue and arts center contributing to Écoscéno's sustainability charter development.
• PME-MTL Centre-VillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontreal business development organization providing early-stage support to Écoscéno, including financing during startup phase.
• TIESS — Territoires innovants en économie sociale et solidaireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerritorial innovation organization supporting social economy development, contributing to Écoscéno's sustainability charter.
• RümkercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic design firm co-developing the R.É.C.I.T.S. cohort program for circularity in Montreal museums, within the Ville de Montréal's Entreprendre pour le climat et la circularité program.
• OnTourneVertminorOthersPartner organization listed on the partners page, nature of partnership not fully detailed.
• Les AuguresminorOthersPartner organization listed on the partners page, nature of partnership not fully detailed.
• FTA — Festival TransAmériquescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTA co-initiated the practical ecodesign guide with Écoscéno and hosted the Holoscenes ecodesign accompaniment. Major co-development partner for the guide's development.
• Association des professionnels des arts de la scène (APASQ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association that organized the Quebec delegation to the Prague Quadrennial 2023, which sparked the creation of Écoscéno and continues to curate the Quebec scenedesign presence.
• Maude Lamarche (Consultante en développement durable)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSustainability consultant who co-developed Écoscéno's sustainability and social commitments charter.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Julie's Bicycle: UK-based non-profit supporting the cultural sector's environmental sustainability through training, consulting, and tools — the most direct international analogue to Écoscéno's integrated offering for arts organizations.
• Broadway Green Alliance: US theatre industry initiative making Broadway productions more environmentally sustainable — overlaid sector (live performing arts) and mission (production-level ecological transition) directly mirror Écoscéno.
• Creative Carbon Scotland: Scottish arts sustainability organization providing carbon measurement, training, and consulting to arts organizations — closely comparable in mission, methodology, and non-profit structure to Écoscéno.
• Climate for Culture: European network and research initiative addressing climate change impacts on cultural heritage and supporting cultural sector decarbonization — directly comparable in facilitating cross-institutional sustainability knowledge for cultural organizations.

Broad incumbents

• Cirque du Soleil: Major Montreal-based circus and entertainment company with formal sustainability commitments and a board-level presence at Écoscéno; comparable as a large cultural actor navigating the same sustainability transition but at incumbent scale.

Emerging players

• Culture Declares Emergency: Global movement of cultural workers and organizations declaring climate emergency; overlaps with Écoscéno on mobilizing the cultural sector but functions more as an advocacy coalition than a service provider.

Others

• TOHU: Montreal circus arts venue and environmental showcase partner of Écoscéno — adjacent as a circular-economy-aligned cultural venue, not a direct service competitor.
• Québec Circulaire: Quebec circular economy ecosystem hub that has awarded Écoscéno — directly comparable in mission but operating as an enabling network rather than a service provider to cultural organizations.
• RECYC-QUÉBEC: Quebec provincial agency responsible for recycling and residual materials management — co-ecosystem actor in the Quebec circular economy space relevant to Écoscéno's reuse marketplace and policy alignment.

Regional players

• On the Move: European cultural mobility information network with growing sustainability focus — addresses cultural sector environmental practice in a different geography but intersects on cross-border sustainability resourcing for cultural professionals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecosceno

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Écoscéno