Chile has, for example, the largest copper reserves in the world and is the largest producer having extracted around 5.2 million metric tons of copper from mines in 2022. Copper plays an important role in the Chilean economy, with an estimated 20 percent of Chile's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) attributed to its production (Statista Research Department, 2023). Additionally, Chile is the
second largest pulp producer in Latin America, after Brazil. Currently, the forest industry represents 1.7 percent of Chile's GDP, concentrating mainly on the pulp, paper, and paper products sector, which has a share of 36.2 percent (INFOR, 2002). According to data from the FAO7, Chile contributed 3 percent of the world production of pulp for paper in 2019.
There is little doubt the extraction and sale of copper and cellulose will continue to drive much of the Chilean economy; but country representatives also realized it was “necessary to broaden the perspective and address the scarce development of value-added products based on their aesthetic, conductive, thermal, mechanical, energetic, ecological, and antimicrobial properties, among others.” This becomes important because copper had also been picking up governmental endorsements for use in health-care related activities. In 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified the antimicrobial property of copper, becoming the first metal on which this recognition falls. Additionally, the International Copper Association (ICA) together with the Copper Development Association Inc. have established the Antimicrobial Copper (Cu+) mark, which guarantees with this seal the products copper-based antimicrobials, representing a great opportunity for the health industry. Finally, the Canadian Network for Observing Trends in Health (CNESH) declares copper in the reference list of the ten most important new and emerging technologies of 2014.
These exciting material realities/endorsements set the stage for an innovative collaboration between a group of young university-based designers, a group of scientists, and two key
Clockwise, this page:
Cellulose, Copper microparticles & Cellulose, Paper Samples
Opposite:
Alejandra Amenábar & Paulina Contreras
Photo Courtesy of:
aAchive of the UDD design school
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