Currently, the advertising market in Chile generates approximately 300,000 m² of plastic every month, a figure that could rise when including smaller companies that are not yet tracked.
Santiago, October 11, 2024 — Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a widely used material for outdoor advertising. Every month, nearly 300,000 m² of this plastic is produced for campaigns that last only three months. According to estimates, about 90% of these banners end up in landfills, which is a long-term concern, as these thermoplastics can take up to 500 years to degrade.
Faced with this challenge, Las Torres Patagonia saw an opportunity to repurpose the waste. In collaboration with the company MKT Green, they are developing waterproof backpacks for the guests of the All-Inclusive program at Hotel Las Torres.
“With these products we’ve designed, we’re not only reducing waste nationwide, but also taking a concrete step in recycling management, preventing plastics from ending up in landfills across Chile,” said Juan López, Commercial Manager of Las Torres Patagonia. He added, “We hope all our guests this season will enjoy these backpacks and take home a high-quality recycled product.”
MKT Green’s Commercial Director, Patricio Rivas, commented, “With Las Torres Patagonia, the ideal scenario came together, where we have a client with a sustainable vision, who doesn’t generate plastic waste but wants to reuse the waste we’ve collected.” He further explained, “It usually takes us one to two years to convince a client, but they came to us with the proposal already crafted to address an issue that isn’t even theirs.”
Rivas noted that MKT Green produces between 5,000 and 7,000 units of recycled plastic merchandise annually. Las Torres Patagonia commissioned the production of 6,000 backpacks and 7,700 dry bags for guests to carry their wet clothes securely. “MKT Green’s two years of production focused on a single client thanks to Las Torres Patagonia,” Rivas remarked.
This project successfully removes 15,000 m² of plastic fabric from circulation, preventing it from ending up in landfills. The backpacks, with a capacity of 20 liters, are waterproof and ideal for the challenging Patagonian climate due to their design and material. The dry bags, with a capacity of 8 liters, are also waterproof. Of their composition, 95% of the materials come from recycled plastic, with only 5% being zippers, clasps, and fasteners to ensure long-lasting durability.