The innovation is being applied to improve soil structure and fertility, especially in areas of southern Chile where acidic soils predominate. Its name is PHorest, an alkaline amendment formulated from waste from the pulp production process, which is already being used by medium and large-scale farmers, with results in productivity and soil health.

This input, which uses ash from biomass boilers and solid waste generated in the causticizing process, neutralizes soil acidity and provides essential nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, promoting crop development.

To scale up the use of this type of solution, ARAUCO has developed Waste Recovery Centers (CVR, for its Spanish acronym), where different materials are processed and transformed into products such as organic substrates and soil amendments. These initiatives are part of the company’s strategy to move toward its goal of zero non-hazardous waste by 2030.