The opportunities of the circular economy in Chile

Telematics day organized by Aclima and the Basque Internationalization Agency

The Aclima Global congress addresses the needs of environmental projects in the South American country.

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A telematics day organized by the environment cluster Acclimatize and Basque Internationalization Agency, integrated into the SPRI Group, debate the situation and Chile's environmental challenges, with great opportunities for the development of projects related to waste management, water or the improvement of Chilean municipalities.

 

During the day, moderated by Xabier Caño and Olga Martin, president and general director of Aclima, the deputy minister of Environment of the Basque Government, Amaia BarredoHe highlighted that Euskadi is a pioneer in the implementation of sustainable development objectives, which translates into results such as the reduction, since 2001, of the ecological footprint by 7%.

 

He has advocated a new growth strategy based “on a fair model that leaves no one behind” and has highlighted that more than 300 Basque companies They use circular economies. "The Department of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment collaborates with large driving companies for the application of circular measures and meetings like this contribute to the exchange of advanced knowledge on the subject."

 

Javier Naranjo, Undersecretary of the Environment of the Government of Chile, has indicated that environmental legislation in Chile “is probably the most advanced in Latin America”. He recalled that the first milestone occurred in 1994 with the approval of the general environmental law, which was followed by others such as the creation in 2010 of the Ministry of the Environment and the environmental evaluation service.

 

70 Basque companies in Chile

 

Ainhoa ​​Ondarzabal, director of the Basque Internationalization Agency, has indicated that Chile is an important commercial partner for Euskadi, with the establishment of nearly 70 Basque companies in the South American country. "The Companies see internationalization as one of the levers to get out of the crisis. We believe that the export sector "It is going to be key to recovery from the crisis."

 

Ondarzabal has assured that the Basque environmental sector has great development potential in the international markets and “this event is part of our activity plan.” He recalled the strict environmental regulation established in Chile, which will involve investments of 6.000 million dollars in the fight against desertification or 1.450 million for environmental projects. “These opportunities make Chile an excellent partner for the Basque environmental sector.”

 

Guillermo González, head of the circular economy office of the Chilean Government, has referred to the strategy to intensify recycling. Thus, in tires that are now only 17% used, "it is planned to reach 100% in a decade in mining." In packaging, the challenge is to go from the current recycling of between 5 to 11% to up to 65% within a period of 12 years. “And we have developed an organic waste strategy to go from the current 1% to 66% in ten years.” González has summarized that, by 2040, the aim is to go from 4% of current recycling to 65% and generate 180.000 new jobs in the circular economy.

 

In a round table, moderated by Christian gutierrezExecutive Director Adapt Chile (which advises municipalities where environmental challenges have been addressed in the municipalities), has intervened José Luis Guarderas, from the municipality of Concepción, southern Chile. He has commented that 60% of the pollution comes from homes “due to the use of wet firewood and the lack of thermal insulation systems.” Added to this are pollution problems in the municipality's lagoons, caused by illegal discharges and the disorderly growth of the municipality.

 

Claudius Castro, mayor of the municipality of Renca, in the metropolitan area of ​​the capital Santiago de Chile, has explained his local development plan until 2030. “Companies generate 100.000 jobs, but only 14.000 people who live in Renca work,” he complained. The plan is committed to greater collaboration with the private sector and one of the projects is to subsidize green reconversion in local industry.

 

Reduce discharges

 

Katherine Müller, development manager Business Action, non-profit organization that brings together more than 130 companies for sustainable management, has referred to its waste elimination plans launched in 2018, which seek to reduce landfilling to a minimum through circular economy practices. “47 companies and 81 facilities and plants have participated,” he stated.

 

CChristian Rojas, President of AEPA (which brings together environmental and health companies that manage waste in Chile), has pointed out that Chile is the country of OECD with greater income inequality. He has asserted that there are more than 20% of landfills without authorization and in the metropolitan region there are 79 large illegal landfills and another 600 of less than one hectare. “And we are talking about an area with a high population density, 478 inhabitants per square kilometer.”

 

Ulrike Broshek, assistant manager at Chile Foundation, He has spoken about the water situation in Chile, with quality problems in the north and south, and also quantity. “In 72% of the aquifers, more water is being used than they receive.” He has indicated that Chile will be the only Latin American country with a serious drought problem in 2040. Broshek has proposed leadership in water management in Chile (there are 43 entities currently involved), the protection of water ecosystems and the search for new water sources.

 

Second day

 

On the second day of this congress, he spoke Augusto Hermo de la Quintana, executive director of the Chilean Sustainability and Climate Change Agency, who explained the plan until 2040 in the circular economy. “We are behind in recycling and the goal is to recycle at least 65% of household waste, compared to the current 10%. We operate in six industries: oils, electrical appliances, packaging, tires, cells and batteries.”

 

Hermo added that his agency proposes a voluntary agreement between the public and private sectors, with the definition of indicators in circular economy companies and a diagnosis of the regions.

 

Rodrigo Lagos, secretary general of the environment of the Chilean region of O'Higgins, has revealed that in 2004 they started an anti-pollution plan. “The biggest problem is the use of firewood for heating, which accounts for almost 60% of the total pollution.” He has stated that, among the measures devised, are the replacement of 20.000 heaters, reducing fuel use in new homes or controlling industrial emissions.

 

Luis Martínez Cema, director of the Latin American Center for relations with Europe, Celare, has highlighted the decision of the Chilean Government to implement circular economy policies, with 32 initiatives, many of them programs. He has referred to the Construye2025 program, a national strategy to transform the way of building in Chile.

 

Maite Subinas, head of business services at the Basque Internationalization Agency, has indicated that this entity offers support for the internationalization of Basque companies, through its 16 offices and 61 consultants throughout the planet. It offers everything from a diagnosis of the company's internationalization potential, to exclusive market studies and supplier search, and even more specialized services such as partner search.

 

Gloria Moya, deputy director of Corfo Metropolitano (Chilean entity similar to the SPRI Group), has highlighted that the pandemic crisis is “an opportunity to achieve a more sustainable economic model. In Chile we have natural advantages and the need to create green jobs. We want to put the focus on digitalization and internationalization”, among other sectors, he has revealed.

 

Francisco Javier Murillo, technical director of environmental engineering Basoinsa, has explained his experience in internationalization in Latin America. He has praised the Pilotu program offered by the Basque Internationalization Agency (with non-refundable public subsidies of up to 50.000 euros), “which has served us well.” He explained that his project was the comprehensive ecological regeneration of a 17-kilometer river in the Chilean municipality of Tenjo.