The initiative emerged from an alliance between the Municipality of Aysén, Salmones Blumar, and residents of one of the most remote localities in the commune.

A total of 2,000 recyclable bags will be distributed in the commune of Aysén, located in the region of the same name, thanks to a participatory project involving the local municipality, residents of a small inlet at Las Huichas islands, a local school, and Salmones Blumar.

The idea is part of an environmental project that seeks to discourage the use of plastic bags in the commune of Aysén. To this end, an alliance was established between the municipality and the salmon farming company that allowed a group of women heads of household from the Estero Copa Neighbors’ Board, from the Las Huichas islands sector, to manufacture two thousand eco-bags that will be purchased by the municipality and then distributed among members of social organizations in the commune.

Last year, these residents were trained in cutting and sewing through a course offered by Salmones Blumar, as part of the “Blumar in Your Community” program, which the company carries out in sectors adjacent to its operating areas. Upon completion of their training, each participant received a sewing machine to develop this trade.

“The idea was to generate a second project that would provide our residents with new employment opportunities. For this, the company supported them with the necessary materials for the production of recyclable bags,” explained Carolina Vera, Head of Human Resources at Salmones Blumar in the Aysén region.

The eco-bags will feature a design created by a student from the Despertar special education school in the commune of Aysén. “The municipality also wanted to involve our educational community in this project. For this, we organized a painting contest, which was won by a student from this school,” stated Felisa Ojeda, municipal administrator of Aysén.

Nicol Cerón, Head of Citizen Participation of the Regional Ministerial Secretariat (Seremi) of the Environment in Aysén, valued this initiative which, she said, “will mark a milestone in caring for the environment through a public-private alliance.”

For his part, Aysén councilman Luis Martínez highlighted that this project exemplifies the creation of a virtuous circle among private enterprise, municipalities, social organizations, and education, “being the starting point for the challenge the commune faces in preserving its environment, in this case, with a measure that will promote the use of recyclable materials to eliminate the use of plastic bags.”