Generate US$400 million annually from industrial waste that is currently discarded? That is the estimate provided by Sofofa—based on a study conducted in collaboration with the University of Concepción—regarding the potential to reintegrate this waste into the production chain, recovering its value and creating a circular economy model.

According to the study, Chile currently generates nearly 9 million metric tons of industrial waste per year, of which only 10% is returned to the production cycle. The study identified 15 types of industrial waste that can be quickly reintroduced into the production cycle, replacing raw materials.

Sofofa and the Ministry of the Environment launched a strategy in late January to promote the use of industrial and mining byproducts in Chile. According to Richard von Appen, president of Sofofa, the use of these materials will reduce CO2 emissions by more than 94 million metric tons annually.

The strategy aims to ensure that these materials—which include steel slag, copper slag, fly ash, sludge from wastewater treatment plants, crushed asphalt, and organic waste, among others—can begin to be systematically utilized in the economy, drawing on the experience of developed countries. These materials can replace more than 7.8 million metric tons of raw materials annually, generating approximately US$400 million per year.