Environment
Our Sustainability, Ethics and Human Rights Policy reflects our commitment to sustainability and sets our guidelines to minimize the environmental impact of our operations. We invite you to learn more about each of the actions we have developed as a company.
In SQM Iodine Vegetal Nutrition we operate under an Environmental System (SGA) and we have implemented the early and preventive monitoring of different environmental variables in the design, construction and operation of our production mine sites with the purpose of anticipating and applying control and mitigation measures needed. Additionally, with the Early Alert Plans (EAP) we can offer environmental safeguard in the light of the anomalies occurrences that may come up during our operations.
For the Division of Iodine Vegetal Nutrition we have authorizations for 48 projects, 11 of which correspond to Environmental Impact Studies and 37 to Environmental Impact Declarations.
In our environmental management we have been increasing our investment significantly. In 2023 the investment was of MUS$47.025, in 2022 MUS$44.180 and in 2021 MUS$31.127.
At SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition we have duly authorized water use rights for our operations, therefore we comply with all associated requirements and commitments.
Our main lines of work are:
Some of our measures for efficient water use include the following:
Our main lines of work are:
- Care, optimization and use of water resources, implementing the best industry practices.
- Quantification process and reporting fresh water consumption, carried out by operation and by product.
- Monitoring and implementation of measures to ensure that water use in our operations does not generate adverse effects on the ecosystem and nearby communities
- Identification of possible effects on surrounding ecosystems due to the use of inland water.
Some of our measures for efficient water use include the following:
- Recirculation of the productive process of the treated waters coming from our plants of wastewater treatment. They are recirculated to the process of the mines of Maria Elena, Pedro de Valdivia, Coya Sur and Nueva Victoria.
- Recirculation of solutions of the process that reduce the consumption of fresh water.
- From the total of the underground resources extracted for Nueva Victoria during 2023, 1.071.084 m3 were re injected as part of the mitigation measure contemplated by the project Pampa Hermosa in Salar de Llamara in the region of Tarapacá.
- For the division of Iodine Vegetal Nutrition, the reused water corresponds to 377.513 m3.
- For SQM SA (Corporate), the reused water corresponds to 1.842.776 m3.
- During 2023 no significant spills in the ground were registered nor in water sources (superficial or underground) within the operations and productive mines of SQM.
| SQM | Unit | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total water extracted | m3 | 30.085.600 | 30.273.553 | 31.885.612 |
| Total water used | m3 | 29.014.516 | 29.377.645 | 31.007.776 |
| Treated Wastewater Reused | m3 | 1.842.776 | 1.252.021 | 1.315.814 |
One way to mitigate impacts on our environment is through the efficient management of our waste. We manage our waste in accordance to national legislation, environmental commitments, and in line with industry best practices. Waste management at SQM is carried out safely, efficiently and within existing environmental regulations. We have 8 warehouses for temporary storage of authorized hazardous waste, 6 warehouses for temporary storage of non-hazardous industrial waste, and a place for disposal of domestic waste generated by our operations.
During 2023 there was no generation of hazardous waste, which might have been treated outside of Chilean territory. We encourage the Recycling Program at the Santiago Office, and at Nueva Victoria we have developed awareness-raising activities for workers operating at sites, through the delivery of information booklets.
Finally, Coya Sur and Tocopilla Port were recognized by CORFO’s Sustainability and Climate Change Agency (ASCC), with a Clean Production Agreement (APL) named “Transition to Circular Economy”.
Our main lines of work
Our main lines of work
- Continuous search to find alternatives to minimize waste generation.
- Waste generation management, under quantification, characterization and treatment criteria, according to current environmental regulations.
- Quantification, segregation, reuse and recycling of solid waste to minimize its impact and favor a circular economy.
At SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition we constantly monitor and follow up on emissions generated by all of our operations, through a detailed prediction of the identified environmental effects, as established in our Sustainability Plan.
We also monitor emissions of particulate matter MP10 and develop Atmospheric Decontamination Plans in communities where our plants operate. We installed an air quality monitoring network in the town of Maria Elena and Tocopilla, where we are also part of the monitoring network.
Our main lines of work
Our main lines of work
- Mitigation through quantification of our GHG emissions according to international methodologies and periodically verified.
- Adaptation of our operations, production and logistics processes in accordance with specific needs and risks of each project, incorporating climate change into the periodic evaluation factors.
- Generation of emissions managed with quantification, characterization, treatment and reduction criteria, according to current environmental regulations.
- Continuous search for alternative processes to minimize the generation of emissions.
- Since 2007 up to date, at the Maria Elena site we have been able to reduce emissions of PM10 in the SQM Production Plant emissions.
- In the city of Tocopilla, the emissions of PM10 generated by our operations are lower than other sources at the site.
- During 2022, emissions of PM10 from SQM’s Port operations were 3.33 tons, achieving a significant reduction in the amount of PM10 emitted, compared to emissions generated in 2007.
In our operations we use solar energy, which is fundamental in the production processes of solar evaporation ponds at Nueva Victoria and COya Sur sites, where we have around 3,000 hectares available.
The electrical energy that is required for our plants to operate comes from the National Electric System and from fuels, although we always prioritize the use of cleaner alternatives, in order to remain aligned with our sustainable and innovative processes. In addition, each year we have significantly reduced the consumption of all energy sources at SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition.
Waste Management:
- Recycling Program in the Santiago Office:in 2023, we continued with the initiative that allows us to recycle paper, cans, tetrapak, plastic and glass at our Santiago Corporate Office, with the help of dispensers placed on all floors. During 2023, 13 collections were carried out from the building’s collecting center, which allowed us to recover 3,803.4 kilograms of waste.
- Recycling at Nueva Victoria: Besides from the recycling management process of domestic water in the six green spots that Recipampa has, awareness instances have been developed among workers in the mine through the delivery of informative booklets. During 2023, 19.502 kg of cardboard and paper, 28 kg of glass, 1.809 kg Pet, 399 kg of metals/aluminum and 1.708 kg of Electric and Electronic devices were recycled.
- More Water, Less Bottles: In the Tocopilla Port, a drinking fountain and filtered water filling station for reusable bottles was placed, eliminating single-use plastic bottles (reduce) and replacing them with refillable bottles or containers (reuse), putting into practice 2 of the 5 Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle, repair and recover. During the station’s trial period, which lasted a month and a half, the use of 697 disposable bottles was avoided, which was the equivalent of 13 kilograms of plastic.
- Acquisition of Volvo Electrical Trucks: in 2023 we established an alliance with Volvo to rent the Volvo FH Electric Model that has a power of 490 kW (660 cv). These trucks are usually compared to three electrical motors and even to six batteries (540 kWh). Its load can be done in one hour and 30 minutes up to eight hours depending on the number of batteries and type of charger.
- Electric Vans: for the Nueva Victoria Mine we acquired a fleet of 10 electric vans in Grandleasing under the operative leasing modality to which 11 previously handed are added. A charging facility was also installed with a loading capacity for two electrical vehicles in Iris Camping, allowing fast loading, two hours at full capacity.
- Incorporation of 100% Electric Semi-Trailers: The Hybrid R from Random semi-trailers line include technology and innovation that allows to recover the energy generated during the descend and braking, reducing the costs of combustibles leading to a reduction of the deterioration in the components and contributing to a lower generation of residues. In addition, they include a pan for the transportation of nitrate salts between the mines of Coya Sur and Puerto Copilla.