From Ideas to Action: Circular Economy in the Bow Valley
Last summer, we explored the idea of a circular economy: moving away from a “take-make-waste” system and toward one that eliminates waste, keeps products and materials in circulation, and regenerates nature.
A year later, we're seeing even more of that idea come to life right here in the Bow Valley....
A cup washed and used again instead of thrown away.
A sink salvaged from a renovation and given a second life.
A neighbour finding the materials they need for a home project instead of buying new.
A meal made creatively from what's already in the fridge.
These are all examples of a circular economy in action.
From reusable dishware at community events to salvaged building materials, creative approaches to food waste, and new resources for borrowing, sharing, repairing, and reusing, the pieces of a more circular Bow Valley are beginning to come together.
So, what progress have we made, and how can you be part of it?
A Quick Refresher: What is a circular economy?
Our current economy is largely linear: we take materials from the Earth, make products from them, and eventually throw them away as waste.
A circular economy asks us to redesign that system so waste and pollution are prevented in the first place, products and materials circulate at their highest value for as long as possible, and natural systems are regenerated.
The circular economy is based on three principles, driven by design:
Eliminate waste and pollution.
Circulate products and materials at their highest value.
Regenerate nature.
Finding Circular Options in the Bow Valley
One of the simplest ways to participate in a circular economy is to use what already exists.
Our Circular Economy Map helps connect Bow Valley residents with local opportunities to repair, reuse, borrow, donate, share, and buy second-hand.
Whether you're looking for somewhere to repair an item, donate something you no longer need, or find a second-hand alternative before buying new, these resources make it easier to choose circular options locally.
Giving Reusable Materials a Second Life
Construction, renovation, and demolition generate a significant amount of material—and many of those materials still have plenty of life left in them.
That's why we launched the ReUse Bow Valley System & Hub, a pilot project exploring how we can keep usable building materials and larger household items circulating within our community.
Rather than heading straight to disposal, items like lumber, cabinetry, fixtures, doors, sinks, and other materials can find a second home.
The project has already helped divert more than 2,000 pounds of material, while also helping us learn what a larger building-material reuse system could look like in the Bow Valley.
Come by to visit us at the Reuse Hub (Unit E7, 110 Bow Meadows Crescent) on Thursdays 3pm-6pm, Saturdays 8am-10am, and Sundays 10am-12pm.
More than a physical location, ReUse Bow Valley is also an online network for material exchange connecting people who have reusable materials with those who can put them to good use.
New! Our online ReUse Bow Valley network is getting easier to navigate
As our ReUse Bow Valley community has grown, we've heard that it would be helpful to have clearer spaces for different kinds of materials. So, we've organized our online exchange into two dedicated groups!
🟠 Building Materials Exchange — our existing group, now fully dedicated to construction, renovation and demolition materials.
🟣 Household Exchange — a brand-new group for furniture, large appliances and other reusable household items.
Same ReUse Bow Valley network, now a little easier to find what you need, and find a new home for what you have!
Passionate about reuse? We are still looking for a few volunteers for the Reuse Hub. Perks include getting first access to items, meeting community members, and being a part of a meaningful project! Email reuse@biosphereinstitute.org.
Making Events More Circular
At the 2026 Canmore Folk Music Festival, a large-scale reusable dishware system helped replace thousands of single-use plates, bowls, cups, and utensils thanks to the Town of Canmore, Tourism Canmore Kananaskis and the Bow Valley Waste Management Commission, powered by Muuse.
Over the course of the festival, 31,751 reusable items were washed and processed, including thousands of plates, bowls, cups, lids, forks, knives, and spoons.
Alongside reuse, recycling, composting, and other waste-reduction efforts, the festival achieved more than 90% waste diversion with our summer intern, Marie, coordinating the passionate 58-member Green Team!
It's a powerful example of what becomes possible when reuse isn't simply left up to individual choices, but is built directly into the systems around us.
And the Folk Festival isn't alone. Events throughout the Bow Valley are finding creative ways to reduce waste and embrace reuse, from improving recycling and composting systems to eliminating unnecessary single-use items, offering water refill stations, encouraging reusable serviceware, and finding new homes for leftover materials.
Together, these efforts are helping shift expectations around what a low-waste event can look like.
Planning an event? Start with the Zero Waste Event Toolkit. The toolkit brings together practical guidance, resources, and lessons learned locally to help organizers think through waste reduction from the beginning, including opportunities to prevent waste, incorporate reusable systems, improve sorting, and communicate clearly with attendees and vendors.
What About Closing the Loop on Food?
Circular thinking belongs in the kitchen, too!
Recently, we teamed up with Co+Kitchen for Cooking Outside the (Fresh Food) Box, a hands-on workshop exploring creative ways to make the most of the food we have. Together, we cooked with seasonal ingredients from the Bow Valley Fresh Food Box and shared practical strategies for reducing food waste!
Yuka also introduced us to the Japanese concept of mottainai—an expression of regret when something valuable is wasted, and a reminder to appreciate and make full use of the resources we have!
It's a simple idea with a lot in common with the circular economy: value what we have, waste less, and get creative with what's already in front of us.
From Individual Actions to Better Systems
Circular economy can sometimes sound like a big, abstract idea. But ultimately, it's about changing something very practical: what happens to the things we already have.
Can they be repaired instead of replaced?
Shared instead of purchased?
Reused instead of thrown away?
Can a material coming out of one building become a resource for another?
And can we design events, businesses, and community systems where the circular choice becomes the easy choice?
Increasingly, the answer in the Bow Valley is yes.
There's still plenty of work ahead, but these projects show what can happen when residents, businesses, municipalities, nonprofits, and community partners begin experimenting together.
Stay in the Loop
What else is happening or coming up in the Bow Valley?
Town of Canmore's Share & Repair Fair
Join the Town of Canmore on Friday, Sept 11 from 4 - 8p.m. at Elevation Place for the Share & Repair Fair!
This free event will connect you with practical and accessible ways to reduce waste and participate in the local share and repair economy through hands-on activities, repair consultations, and more.
Explore the Repair Hub to discover ways to keep items in use longer, donate or pick-up clothing at the Swap-O-Rama, and connect with various educational community booths. There is also family-friendly programming intended to engage youth and encourage circular economy principles!
Throughout the Share and Repair Fair, you can learn new skills and earn vouchers that you can redeem for popcorn and coffee/tea at Eclipse. Plus, you have a chance to win great prizes from Patagonia and other participating organizations.
Click below to check out what they have planned so that you can make the most of the event!
Fruit Tree Removal/Replacement Incentive
Fruit trees can be a great addition to our yards, but in the Bow Valley they can also attract wildlife into residential areas.
Thanks to generous support from the G7, the Biosphere Institute is continuing our partnership with the Town of Canmore to offer the Fruit Tree Replacement Incentive using remaining funds from the 2025 program. The incentive works alongside the Town’s Fruit Tree Removal Incentive, helping residents remove fruit-bearing trees and shrubs and replace them with wildlife-friendly alternatives.
Removing wildlife attractants from our neighbourhoods is one simple but important way we can help reduce human-wildlife conflict and keep wildlife wild in the Bow Valley.
Thinking about replacing a fruit tree on your property? Learn more or apply for the incentive.
Building for Sustainability Symposium
Registration is now open for the 2026 Building for Sustainability Symposium!
Join us November 25–27 in Canmore for three days of learning, connection, and practical conversations about the future of the built environment.
This year’s Symposium explores the themes of Innovation | Collaboration | Small Changes, Big Impacts, bringing together builders, developers, architects, engineers, municipal leaders, sustainability professionals, and others working to create more resilient, efficient, and sustainable communities.
The program will feature engaging workshops and panel discussions, technical demonstrations, inspiring speakers, networking opportunities, and field trips showcasing real-world projects throughout the Bow Valley.
Whether you work directly in the building industry or are interested in how our communities can build better, we invite you to be part of the conversation.
Registration is now open. Explore the program and reserve your spot!
Queer(y)ing Ecologies Art Exhibit
The Biosphere Institute teamed up with artsPlace and Canmore Pride to bring Queer(y)ing Ecologies to life—an interactive exhibit exploring the incredible diversity of sex, gender, reproduction, and relationships found throughout the natural world.
Through art, science, and storytelling, the exhibit invites us to get curious about nature, challenge our assumptions about what is “natural,” and celebrate the diversity all around us.
The exhibit is on at artsPlace until September 7. Stop by and explore!
The People Behind the Progress
Big change is built through consistent support. Our Summit Club members are a community of monthly donors who help us try new ideas, grow what works, and keep building practical climate solutions right here in the Bow Valley.
Their support is behind so much of what you see in action today, and we’re incredibly grateful to have them alongside us.
