Consignaction

What Consignaction does

Consignaction is the public-facing operating brand of the Association québécoise de récupération des contenants de boissons (AQRCB), a Quebec-based non-profit association founded in 2001 and designated by the Quebec government as the management body for the province's beverage container deposit-refund system under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principles. The organization operates a hybrid physical return network of 250+ modernized locations across Quebec, comprising dedicated boutique-style Consignaction and Consignaction+ return sites alongside Zone Consignaction return points hosted by retailers with sales area exceeding 375m². The technology stack includes state-of-the-art reverse vending machines for Single-Unit Return, Express Return bag-drop stations that process unsorted containers with electronic refunds within 24 hours, and Bulk Return equipment capable of processing hundreds of containers per minute. A mobile application with 215,000+ active users enables QR-code-based identification, secure electronic refunds, and deposit history tracking.

The business model is funded primarily through EPR fees paid by member beverage producers (calculated per container placed on the Quebec market), supplemented by regulatory and government support and a CAD $207M structured financing facility led by Desjardins with BMO, RBC, TD Bank Group, and Investissement Québec. Deposits collected from consumers (10 cents standard, 25 cents for certain 500ml+ glass bottles) flow through the system and are returned against container recovery. The mandate has been implemented across three phases: aluminum containers (November 2023), plastic ready-to-drink containers (March 2025, adding ~1.5 billion bottles), and glass and multi-layer cartons scheduled for March 2027. The organization targets a 90% recovery rate by 2032 across Quebec's approximately 5 billion annual redeemable containers and currently captures 60%+ of total volume.

Consignaction serves a multi-sided ecosystem including 1.4M+ monthly consumer users, mandatory-member beverage producers, retailer hosts, social economy organizations (notably Coop des Valoristes), municipalities, and restaurants/bars/hotels/institutions (ÉCSP). Distribution combines direct-to-consumer return sites, channel partnerships with retailers, and event-driven community engagement (e.g., La Ronde amusement park partnership). Since the April 2024 network transformation, more than 750 million containers have been returned, achieving a 95%+ independent user satisfaction rate and 100% recycling of returned containers. A bottle-to-bottle glass recycling program is under development for local Quebec processing.

Name

Consignaction

Legal name

Association québécoise de récupération des contenants de boissons

Website

https://consignaction.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Consignaction (AQRCB) is Quebec's government-designated non-profit operating the province's beverage container deposit-refund system under Extended Producer Responsibility, managing 250+ modernized return sites and serving 1.4M+ monthly citizens and member beverage producers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Beverage Container Recycling

NAICS

Waste Management and Remediation Services (562)

akta.pro primary industry

Deposit Return System (DRS) / Bottle Bill Counting & Processing Centers (BPALADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops) (EUAIANAE), Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support) (IMALAMAF)

Keywords

• Deposit return system
• Beverage container recycling
• Extended producer responsibility
• Reverse vending machines
• Container deposit refund

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Laurent (Montreal)

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Fees: Producer responsibility organization funded by beverage producers who pay fees based on the containers they place on the market. Producers include anyone who owns or uses a beverage name or trademark and has an establishment in Quebec.
2. Government Funding and Subsidies: Government of Quebec funding and regulatory support for the modernization and expansion of the deposit-refund system. Includes a $207M financing agreement with financial partners led by Desjardins.
3. Container Deposit Handling: Deposit amounts (10 cents standard, 25 cents for certain glass bottles) collected from consumers and managed through the system. 100% of returned containers are recycled.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Consignaction (the public brand of the Association québécoise de récupération des contenants de boissons / QBCRA) operates Quebec's modernized beverage-container deposit-return and recycling system under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). It runs a hybrid network of dedicated Consignaction and Consignaction+ return sites, Zone Consignaction points at participating retailers, and a mobile app that together enable citizens to return eligible aluminum, plastic, and glass containers for cash or electronic refunds. The organization is funded by EPR fees paid by beverage producers and a $207M financing agreement, with deposits set at 10 cents per container (25 cents for certain 500ml+ glass bottles) and 100% of returned containers recycled.

Product overview

Consignaction operates a modernized deposit-return system for beverage containers in Quebec, Canada. The company manages a hybrid network of return sites including Consignaction (standard) and Consignaction+ (enhanced) boutique-style facilities, plus Zone Consignaction locations at major retailers. Services include Single-Unit Return (reverse vending machines), Express Return (unsorted bag drop via mobile app), and Bulk Return (high-capacity processing). The Consignaction mobile app enables electronic refunds via QR code, with over 215,000 active users. Partner portals serve retailers, municipalities, social economy organizations, and carriers. The system has expanded through phases: aluminum containers (November 2023), plastic containers (March 2025), and upcoming glass/multi-layer carton expansion (March 2027), targeting 90% recovery rate by 2032.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Consignaction: Standard return sites offering Single-Unit Return via reverse vending machines and Express Return for unsorted container bag drops.
• Consignaction+
• Zone Consignaction

Products and services

• Consignaction Return Site Boutique-style dedicated return facility for Quebec citizens offering Single-Unit Return via new-generation reverse vending machines, Express Return for unsorted bag drops, and cash or electronic refunds for eligible beverage containers.
• Consignaction+ Return Site Enhanced return facility with state-of-the-art equipment offering Single-Unit Return, Express Return, and high-capacity Bulk Return services for citizens, industries, businesses, and institutions.
• Zone Consignaction Dedicated lobby or kiosk space at retailers with sales area greater than 375m² selling redeemable containers, featuring automated reclaimers offering Single-Unit Return with cash refund or invoice deduction.
• Consignaction Mobile App Mobile application for citizens to create accounts, receive unique QR codes, obtain secure electronic refunds at return sites, access Express Return bag-drop service, track deposit history, and receive e-transfer refunds within 24 hours.
• Express Return Service allowing users to drop off a bag of unsorted beverage containers at Consignaction and Consignaction+ sites; refund is processed electronically via the Consignaction mobile app within 24 hours after containers are sorted and counted.
• Bulk Return Bulk deposit service for large quantities of unsorted containers using high-efficiency equipment capable of processing hundreds of containers in minutes, available at Consignaction+ sites with cash or electronic refund options.
• Partner Portals Web-based portals for beverage producer members, retailers, municipalities, social economy organizations, restaurants/bars/hotels/institutions (ÉCSP), and carriers to manage participation in the deposit-return system.

Quantifiable outcome

• 750 million+ containers returned since April 2024
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• La RondeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Seasonal partnership for 2024 to encourage recovery of redeemable containers at the amusement park. Recycling bins installed throughout the park. All profits from recovered containers support Coop des Valoristes.
• Quebec Government (MELCCFP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body responsible for environmental regulations. Provided regulatory framework for modernization. Minister Pascale Déry attended inauguration of new return sites. Government postponed Phase 3 to March 1, 2027 for glass and multilayer cartons.
• Coop des ValoristesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial economy cooperative focused on inclusive and participative management of redeemable containers. Receives profits from container recovery at La Ronde partnership.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@consignaction
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BoissonsGazeuses
• Facebookfacebook.com/Consignaction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/consignaction
• Instagraminstagram.com/consignaction/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@consignaction

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Consignaction