Bo Packaging, Selecta Envases and MM Packaging: Three Chilean innovations rise to replace plastic
Today, there are concrete solutions in Chile that allow for the replacement of traditional plastics with biodegradable, recyclable, and compostable materials.
In Chile, the packaging industry, hand-in-hand with the gastronomic and food sectors, has been seeking to convert to more sustainable materials, a path that has involved facing numerous challenges, including the need to redesign products, as well as invest in new technologies and perfect processes.
Today, there are concrete solutions in Chile that allow the replacement of traditional plastics with biodegradable, recyclable, and compostable materials, driven by national companies, some of which even have institutional support.
This is the case of Bo Packaging, which has been one of the pioneering companies in this field. With their line of compostable and recyclable paper containers, they have been at the forefront of innovation since 2018. The project, solidified in 2020 with the creation of the B-Switch laboratory, backed by Corfo, offers polyethylene-free alternatives, with a highly efficient manufacturing process.
Among its most notable products is the compostable cup which has gained prominence in the food service industry. Made from paper without polyethylene and with a natural barrier that ensures its functionality, the cup maintains the necessary thermal and resistance properties for hot and cold beverages, being completely compostable in industrial environments. This innovation allows replacing traditional polypaper cups without compromising quality or performance.
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"Through the work we have developed, we have seen that it is possible to replace poly-paper without losing functionality and, at the same time, be more friendly with the planet," emphasizes the Operations Manager of Bo Packaging, Waldo Grez.
However, the executive expresses concern about the limitation that will be imposed from February 2026 by the provisions of the Single-Use Plastics Law, which will prevent food premises from using compostable materials indoors. "This would, in practice, allow a return to plastic. It's paradoxical, because we could end up having more polymers in the landfills", he indicates.
For its part, Selecta Envases developed its star product in 2023: the Clamshell for strawberries. This packaging, made from Natural Kraft cardboard and 100% recyclable, is available in supermarkets such as Jumbo and Líder.
"The Chilean market has made considerable progress towards solutions like these, which promote the circular economy and have the tremendous potential to drive a high demand for single-use products with great environmental qualities, particularly compostable, in a very short period of time," highlights Alex Díaz, Commercial Manager of Selecta Envases.
"Despite this," he comments, "these advances can be undermined by the upcoming enactment of the last phase of the Single-Use Plastics Law, which prohibits much more than plastics. Despite its good intentions, this regulation also prohibits environmentally friendly packaging made from recyclable and compostable materials such as paper, cardboard, seaweed, or wood. These will not be able to be used, something we hope can be reviewed," he says.
MM Packaging Chile also stands out for its specialization in compostable and recyclable packaging, with a strong commitment to replacing single-use plastics with materials not derived from oil. Focused on industries such as cafés, airlines, and events, one of its main contributions is the replacement of plastic sushi containers, offering compostable alternatives that maintain the quality and presentation of the product, with a significant reduction in environmental impact.
The managing director of MM Packaging Chile for LATAM, Aldo González, suggests that sustainable solutions like these, which do not lose functionality or quality of the products they contain, are setting the standard that the world of packaging does not have to be synonymous with pollution. On the contrary, there are now real and concrete options to reduce and efficiently manage the waste produced by industries such as the gastronomic and food industry.