Stantec, a global leader in sustainable engineering and design, completed the engineering of the world’s first carbon-neutral, hygienic ceramic-manufacturing facility, located in Matane, Quebec. This milestone marks the opening of German manufacturer Duravit’s first plant in North America, after two years of construction.
Spanning 35,000 square metres (377,000 square feet), the facility is strategically located near the Port of Matane on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. The site enables a fully automated production cycle—from receiving raw materials to truck shipment of finished products—of the high-end bathroom fixtures manufactured by Duravit including casting, drying, glazing, firing, and packaging.
The plant is carbon-neutral (scope 2), with zero carbon emissions, and is fully powered by hydroelectricity, a clean and renewable energy source. With an energy demand of up to 10 megawatts, it will operate two nearly 100-metre-long electric kilns, custom-designed to replace traditional gas-fired systems. This innovative process will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 9,000 tonnes annually.
Bringing engineering and sustainability together
In collaboration with architectural firm DAD Architecture/Design, Stantec designed the plant’s electrical, mechanical, fire protection, and telecommunications systems. The Stantec team also supported Duravit through environmental permitting and water treatment processes.
“Designing the world’s first carbon-neutral, hygienic ceramic plant represents a significant achievement for our Stantec team. Delivered on an accelerated timeline through close international collaboration, the project sets a new benchmark in sustainable engineering. It demonstrates that industrial performance can be successfully integrated with substantial reductions in the carbon footprint,” said Robert Bourdon, project director at Stantec.
“The Quebec region was the natural choice for our first North American facility, thanks to its clean hydroelectric power and strong network of technical partners,” said Christian Gilles, general manager of Duravit Canada. “This project embodies our commitment to responsible production and clearly reflects our ambition to significantly reduce our environmental footprint. Our collaboration with Stantec was instrumental in making this facility a global model for sustainable sanitary manufacturing.”
The new Matane plant will manufacture up to 450,000 premium bathroom products annually for the North American market, creating 240 skilled jobs in the Gaspésie region and supporting Duravit’s local production strategy.
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