Chile’s path to a circular economy
In 2015, Chile began the development and implementation of national and sectoral public policies for the transition to a low carbon economy, including circular economy principles, with the aim of achieving effective and forceful transformations in the face of climate change through an adjusted economic model that would allow the sustainable development of the country. One of the first instruments related to circular economy was the Law on Waste Management, Extended Producer Responsibility and Promotion of Recycling that meant a paradigm shift in waste management in the country.
The Law is a Framework to reduce waste generation and increase recycling rates and reuse by 30 %. The developed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) strategy addressed waste generation and facilitated upcycling, while improving social and environmental conditions. As part of the ecosystem of strategies and public policies related to climate change, the elaboration of the ‘Roadmap for a Circular Chile to 2040’ began in 2018 and it was published in 2021.
The roadmap sets out a long-term vision and strategy to transform the country’s production methods and, in particular, the use and disposal of resources, with a view to solving the challenges of the current economic system. This roadmap outlines clear goals and an action plan that will move Chile away from a linear economic model towards circular economy aimed at eliminating waste and pollution, enhancing circular production and consumption, and regenerating nature to mitigate the effects of climate change.
At sector level, “RCD Roadmap – Circular Economy in Construction sector in 2035” was published in 2020. It focuses on improving the construction value chain, a key sector in Chile, through efficient management of construction waste and demolitions. To have a synergistic and short-term approach (with a horizon to 2025), in 2022 the Chile Chamber of Construction, the Institute of Construction and the Construye2025 Program by CORFO launched the Circular Economy Strategy in the Construction 2022 sector.
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Drivers for the transition to a circular economy
- International commitments to the Paris Agreement and the Agenda 2030
- Commitment of all parties to build a more sustainable and inclusive Chile
- Strategic public policies and decisions with the Roadmap for a Circular Economy Chile by 2040
- National innovation system for the competitiveness and innovation for circular economy
- Efficiency in the use of natural resources
- Public sector leadership and coordination
- Programmes and instruments for the implementation of the circular economy
Lesson Learnt from the transition process
Stakeholder engagement and participation is key
Stakeholder engagement and participation was key in preparing the roadmap, and it continues to be so in its implementation. The contributions of public, private, academic, and civil society should be sought and incorporated into the process.
Design an inclusive process
The inclusive process involved other Ministries beyond the environment, the private sector, academia, waste pickers’ organisations and thousands of citizens who have contributed ideas to transform the country towards a more productive economy that cares for its ecosystems.
Allow adequate time
The reduced time horizon of two years is very short to be able to develop all the proposals raised in the roadmap and to achieve the proposed objectives. There is a need to establish a time frame that allows for a broad participatory process and the achievement of the objectives. Support
Strengthen regional actors
Strengthening regional actors is essential to ensure a territorial vision, considering the needs and priorities of the different regions. In the process of transition towards a circular economy and the elaboration of the roadmap, a limited participation of the territories was achieved.
Set up proper governance
Proper governance, creating distributed responsibilities and long-term acceptance of the transition towards a circular economy, requires the involvement of all stakeholders. To guide the elaboration of the roadmap, a Strategic Committee was created with public, private, and municipal actors, along with an International Advisory Committee that gave credibility to the entire process. The implementation and monitoring of the roadmap are being promoted by the public sector through CORFO.
Follow-up and monitoring progress is essential
Follow-up and monitoring progress in the implementation of the roadmap is essential in order to know the level of achievement of each of the objectives. Transparent and accurate reporting facilitates an updated understanding of the situation at all times and signals the need to intervene, when necessary, as well as any doubts that might arise about the achievement of any of the commitments and initiatives. Based on the experience acquired with the elaboration and implementation of the Roadmap for a Circular Chile by 2040, awareness, dissemination and education on the culture of environmental care and circular culture, promoting changes in consumption habits and production patterns, is crucial to make citizens aware and sensitive to environmental problems and assume their roles as agents of change for the transition towards the circular economy.