Eco-Elite: Entrepreneurs develop innovative biodegradable bags with pet-safe repellent
The project was born in 2024 and seeks to reduce the amount of domestic waste in the streets, which has led them to be part of various initiatives linked to sustainable productive development in Chile.
Trash bags made from corn starch that are not only biodegradable but also contain wildlife-friendly repellent to prevent them from breaking them, is the product that entrepreneurs, Paulo Castillo and Juan Antequera, are currently developing at Eco-Elite.
The project was born in 2024 and its aim is to reduce the amount of household waste in the streets, which has led them to be part of various initiatives linked to sustainable productive development.
A NATURAL REPELLENT
The repellent present in their products represents a unique quality in the market, as it is completely natural, without artificial components, that keep canines and felines away without posing a risk to their health. Currently, the product is in the prototyping stage and is expected to be launched on the market soon.
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Paulo Castillo, founder of Eco-Elite, pointed out that "the main feature of our bags, apart from their durability, is the natural repellent they contain, which prevents pets from destroying them, causing significant pollution on the streets, primarily in residential areas".
In order to expand their knowledge and sustainability strategies, both entrepreneurs participated in the course "Green Innovation: Decarbonization as a driver of sustainable entrepreneurship", where they were able to learn how to measure the carbon footprint of their business and how to implement mitigation and compensation strategies in their various production processes.
The initiative was from the Business Research and Modeling Center (CIMON) of Santo Tomas University (UST) La Serena Campus, with funding from Corfo.
The aim of the course was to equip participants with practical sustainability tools for their businesses or entrepreneurship projects. The modules addressed methods of measuring the carbon footprint, mitigation and compensation strategies, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), technological surveillance for innovation, environmental regulations, among other topics.
Regarding this, the micro-entrepreneur pointed out that, "participating in this course has been a very satisfying experience, as we have been able to increase the value of our products and services, through a unique sustainable business model. In addition, we learned about environmental regulations and how they are applied in the market in which we want to insert ourselves".
The course focused on individuals or legal entities based in the Province of Elqui and who were interested in analyzing and restructuring their internal processes towards a more environmentally friendly approach.