As part of the PTEC Valoriza MáS—the technology program aimed at scaling innovative solutions to transform environmental liabilities into commercially valuable products and foster a circular economy in Chile—representatives from Natura Chile and CEMPRE Chile (Corporate Commitment to Recycling) visited the facilities of the Technological Development Unit (UDT) at the University of Concepción.
From Natura Chile, attendees included Camila Pérez (Legal and Government Affairs Coordinator), Valentina Ponce (Sustainability Analyst), and Facundo Ordoñez (Sustainability Coordinator). Representing CEMPRE Chile were Isabel Carvajal (Project Coordinator) and Andrea Riquelme (Executive Director).
The visit included a tour of the Biomaterials Conversion Room and the Thermoplastic Materials Laboratory, where the guests learned about UDT’s progress in recycling and the development of biodegradable composites for packaging and other applications.
The session also served as a platform for exchanging experiences and approaches in waste management. Natura Chile shared the challenges and opportunities related to the valorization of its waste streams, while CEMPRE emphasized its work in systematizing and disseminating knowledge about Chile’s recycling chain and strengthening local waste management practices.
The visit was led by Dr. Juan Carlos Carrasco Moraga, Executive Director of UDT, accompanied by Carolina Olivari, Project Engineer in the R&D Department and Coordinator of the Biomaterials Conversion Room, and Carla Pérez, Director of the Consulting and Innovation Department at UDT and Director of the Valoriza MáS Program.