COLUN's 'Planeta COLUN' environmental program enters second year in La Unión
The 'Planeta COLUN' environmental education and circular economy program, a collaboration between the COLUN cooperative and the company RECICO, is advancing into its second stage in La Unión. Following a pilot year in 2025, the program will continue throughout 2026 with an expanded cycle aimed at permanently embedding plastic recycling culture within the educational communities of the commune. The initiative, which began in 2024 with a diagnostic phase and information gathering, saw its pilot implementation between August and December 2025. This initial phase included the installation of recycling bins, over 120 environmental workshops, and participation from 81% of the communal school enrollment, reaching more than 7,000 students and over 1,000 teachers and staff. The pilot also distributed over 8,000 reusable bags and involved more than 5,000 families. Lessons learned from the pilot, including content validation and methodological adjustments, have shaped the 2026 stage. This year's approach is differentiated by educational level: preschool focuses on habit formation through stories and games, primary and combined levels engage in practical activities and real diagnostics, and secondary education involves forming environmental brigades and implementing territorial impact campaigns. The formal launch of the second stage occurred on May 26th at the Colegio de Cultura y Difusión Artística de La Unión, with local officials and representatives from the 20 participating educational establishments present. A symbolic handover of planters made from recycled plastic, containing native trees like oak and coihue, marked the occasion, reinforcing the commitment to environmental stewardship. COLUN aims to equip participants with tools to understand that productivity and environmental care are interconnected, fostering sustainability ambassadors.
The 'Planeta COLUN' initiative demonstrates a corporate strategy to integrate environmental education and circular economy principles into local educational systems. By framing recycling and sustainability as core components of both productivity and environmental stewardship, COLUN aims to foster long-term behavioral change and brand loyalty. The program's phased approach, starting with diagnostics and a pilot, followed by differentiated educational strategies and digital engagement, suggests a scalable model for corporate social responsibility. The partnership with RECICO and alignment with CONAF highlight a systemic approach to resource management. Future considerations may involve evaluating the program's long-term impact on waste reduction metrics and assessing the replicability of this model in other regions, particularly in light of evolving environmental regulations and the growing importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors in corporate governance.
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