CENEM - Centro de Envases y Embalajes de Chile

What CENEM - Centro de Envases y Embalajes de Chile does

CENEM - Centro de Envases y Embalajes de Chile is a private, membership-based technical corporation founded in 1991 and headquartered in Vitacura, Santiago. It operates as the primary industry association for Chile's packaging and containers sector, aggregating approximately 125 member companies across the full packaging value chain (corrugated cardboard, plastics, metal, glass, paper, flexible packaging) along with recyclers, converters, and distributors. The organization is governed by an elected Board of Directors led by Gerente General Mariana Soto Urzúa and a Director leading the knowledge pillar (Fernando Álvarez), with a commercial manager (Luisa Martínez) handling publication and commercial relationships. Staff count is 16.

CENEM's core technology and product portfolio is built around three pillars: knowledge services, events, and sustainability programs. The knowledge pillar includes the International Post-Degree Diploma in Packaging Technologies developed jointly with the Universidad de Chile's Department of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Materials, a digital library, technical manuals (corrugated cardboard, paper bags), and ecodesign guides. The events pillar comprises CIRCLEPACK, the only International Packaging Fair in Chile and one of the most significant in the Southern Cone (8,000+ sqm exhibition space at Espacio Riesco), the Flex-on-Road International Flexography Seminar, monthly member breakfasts, and webinars. The sustainability pillar is anchored by three Clean Production Agreements (APL I, II, III), the Environmental Calculator tool, and Ley REP compliance guidance, positioning CENEM as the recognized technical voice in Chile's Extended Producer Responsibility implementation. Supporting assets include Revista VAS 4.0 (the only packaging magazine in Chile), El Journal del Packaging newsletter, and 8 specialized technical working groups (Mesas Técnicas).

CENEM's business model is a multi-stream membership association revenue structure. Primary revenue derives from annual corporate membership fees (subscription/recurring), supplemented by CIRCLEPACK and seminar registration fees (transaction-based pricing in Unidad de Fomento, e.g., UF 2.5 member / UF 3.5 public for Flex-on-Road), diploma and course tuition (one-time license), Revista VAS 4.0 advertising and sponsorship, and consultancy services. The organization leverages 20 strategic alliances — including the World Packaging Organisation, ABRE (Brazil), IAE (Argentina), ProChile, Cámara de Comercio de Santiago, and multiple universities — to compound member value and enable international market access. CENEM is not backed by external private equity or venture capital.

Name

CENEM - Centro de Envases y Embalajes de Chile

Legal name

CENEM - Centro de Envases y Embalajes de Chile

Website

https://cenem.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CENEM is a private Chilean industry association founded in 1991 that aggregates 125+ member companies across the packaging and containers value chain, delivering knowledge services (post-graduate diploma, technical guides, Revista VAS 4.0 magazine), the CIRCLEPACK International Packaging Fair, and regulatory/sustainability leadership on Chile's Ley REP framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Packaging Industry Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Forest Certification, Compliance & Chain-of-Custody Support (AFAMAAAH)

Keywords

• Packaging industry association
• Technical corporation packaging
• Packaging trade fair
• Circular economy packaging
• Packaging professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Vitacura, Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from associated companies providing access to working groups, events, publications, and regulatory guidance.
2. Event Revenue: Registration fees from CIRCLEPACK trade fair, Flex-on-Road seminars, and other industry events. Pricing for Flex-on-Road seminar: UF 2.5 for members, UF 3.5 for general public.
3. Educational Programs: Revenue from International Diploma in Packaging Technologies and specialized courses on packaging design, recycling, and sustainability.
4. Publications and Advertising: Revenue from Revista VAS 4.0 magazine, El Journal del Packaging newsletter, and advertising space in publications.
5. Commercial Services: Consultancy services and sponsorship opportunities for companies seeking visibility and access to the packaging industry network.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

CENEM is a private membership-based technical corporation that represents Chile's packaging and containers industry across the full value chain (corrugated cardboard, plastics, metal, glass, paper, and flexible packaging). It provides industry representation, technical working groups, regulatory guidance (including Ley REP compliance), professional education (International Diploma in Packaging Technologies), sustainability programs (Clean Production Agreements), and the CIRCLEPACK international packaging trade fair. The organization operates 125+ member companies, 8 technical working groups, and 20 strategic alliances.

Product overview

CENEM is a technical corporation that serves as the primary association for Chile's packaging and containers industry and its value chain. The organization operates as a platform offering educational programs (International Diploma on Packaging Technologies), publications (Revista VAS 4.0 magazine, El Journal del Packaging newsletter), trade events (CIRCLEPACK International Packaging Fair), technical guides (ecodesign manuals, corrugated cardboard manual, paper bags manual), sustainability programs (Clean Production Agreements APL), and working groups (8 technical mesas covering corrugated cardboard, biopolymers, plastic packaging, circularity, and more). The portfolio also includes webinars, a digital library, and environmental tools like the Environmental Calculator.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Revista VAS 4.0: The only technical packaging publication in Chile, providing knowledge on packaging trends, innovations and regulations.
• CIRCLEPACK
• Diplomado Internacional en Tecnologías para la Industria del Packaging

Products and services

• Revista VAS 4.0 The only technical packaging publication in Chile, providing updates, analysis, and insights on trends, innovations, and regulations in the packaging industry. Distributed to industry professionals and international partners, with advertising and sponsorship opportunities for member companies.
• Diplomado Internacional en Tecnologías para la Industria del Packaging International post-graduate diploma program focused on packaging technologies and sustainable packaging for the food and beverage industry, offered jointly with the Department of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Materials at the University of Chile. The program covers sustainability, innovation, circular economy, and Industry 4.0.
• CIRCLEPACK - Feria Internacional de Packaging International packaging fair organized by CENEM, the only one in Chile and one of the most important in the Southern Cone. Brings together the main actors of the packaging industry and its value chain to showcase innovation, business opportunities, and sustainable packaging solutions, with focus on technology, automation, and Industry 4.0.
• APL - Acuerdos de Producción Limpia (Clean Production Agreements) Clean Production Agreements - voluntary agreements between public and private sectors that prepare packaging companies for regulations, promoting collaborative work, circular economy principles, and sustainability. CENEM has led three APLs (APL I, II, III), with APL II certifying 29 participating companies.
• Calculadora Ambiental (Environmental Calculator) Environmental calculator tool for assessing the environmental impact of packaging solutions, supporting sustainability assessments for member companies and the broader packaging value chain.
• Newsletter El Journal del Packaging Weekly newsletter delivering the most outstanding news and trends in the packaging industry sector to subscribers, including sector news, trends, member updates, and upcoming events.

Quantifiable outcome

• USD 23.4 million in projected business from 599 meetings at ProChile's Latam Business Encounter 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• UTECOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2023Strategic alliance for the Flex-on-Road International Flexography Seminar, bringing together world flexography industry leaders and enabling knowledge exchange on sustainable printing technologies.
• World Packaging Organisation (WPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational packaging organization partnership providing global industry representation, WorldStar Awards participation, and access to international packaging trends and standards.
• CETA (Centro Tecnológico de Alimentos)coreTechnology or IntegrationFood technology center partnership supporting packaging innovation for the food industry and technical collaboration on food safety packaging solutions.
• PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest certification partnership supporting sustainable paper and cardboard packaging through certified sourcing verification.
• ProChilecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment export promotion agency partnership facilitating international market access for member companies through trade missions, business encounters, and export support programs.
• Circula El PlásticocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational plastic circularity initiative partnership supporting extended producer responsibility programs and plastic packaging sustainability.
• FCFM - Universidad de Chile (Ingeniería)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering faculty partnership supporting the International Diploma in Packaging Technologies and academic research collaboration.
• UTEM (Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical university partnership for professional development and packaging technology education programs.
• TUVsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationTechnical certification and testing services partnership supporting packaging quality and safety certification.
• Euro MonitorsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarket research and intelligence partnership providing data and analysis on packaging industry trends and market size.
• Cámara de Comercio de Santiago (CCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSantiago Chamber of Commerce partnership collaborating on Clean Production Agreements for e-commerce packaging sustainability and trade facilitation.
• IAE (Instituto Argentino de Envase y Embalaje)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerArgentine packaging institute partnership for regional industry collaboration and knowledge exchange.
• ABRE (Associação Brasileira de Embalagem)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian packaging association partnership for Latin American industry collaboration and best practice sharing.
• CIUC (Centro de Innovación UC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPontifical Catholic University of Chile innovation center partnership supporting packaging innovation and research projects.
• MSur (Asociación de Recicladores)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecyclers association partnership supporting circular economy initiatives and waste management solutions.
• Negocios GlobalessecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness magazine partnership providing media coverage and visibility for the packaging industry.
• JVD DiseñosecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign consultancy contributing to webinars on ecodesign and sustainable packaging development.
• Tesa TapesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdhesive solutions provider contributing to sustainability webinars and presenting environmental solutions for mounting clichés.
• SiegwerksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerInk and coating technology provider presenting circular packaging technologies in sustainability webinars.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EUROPEN - European Organization for Packaging and the Environment: European packaging-industry association focused on packaging policy, sustainability, and circular economy advocacy. Comparable business model (membership-funded trade association) operating in a parallel regulatory environment with similar EPR compliance support services.
• IAE - Instituto Argentino de Envase y Embalaje: Argentine packaging institute, also a named strategic ally of CENEM. Directly comparable as a Southern Cone industry association providing technical guidance, events, and co-developed content like CENEM's Packaging Design for Recycling Guide.
• Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP): US-based professional association for packaging professionals offering education, certification, and networking. Comparable as a packaging-focused membership body with educational certification programs targeting industry practitioners.
• ABRE - Associação Brasileira de Embalagem: Brazilian packaging industry association and a documented strategic partner of CENEM. Most directly comparable: same membership/association model, national packaging trade fair (Brazil Pack Trends), sustainability and education programs covering the broader LATAM region.

Others

• Smithers (Smithers Packaging): Market intelligence and event/publishing provider for the packaging industry. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant offering research, publications, and industry events that complement or compete with CENEM's Revista VAS 4.0 and CIRCLEPACK offerings.

Emerging players

• Sustainable Packaging Coalition: Industry coalition focused specifically on packaging sustainability and circular economy. Overlaps with CENEM's sustainability and ecodesign focus area but operates as a project-based coalition rather than a national trade association.

Broad incumbents

• World Packaging Organisation (WPO): Global packaging federation of which CENEM is a partner. Comparable umbrella trade body running the WorldStar Awards and international packaging advocacy; functions as a broader incumbent that national associations like CENEM plug into.

Regional players

• APCO - Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation: Australian packaging industry body delivering national packaging sustainability targets and EPR compliance. Comparable as a regional packaging association with deep regulatory and sustainability remit, but operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CENEM_CHILE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwBHZ-ZeYJy_n4j0YZmVp8Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/CENEM-Centro-de-Envases-y-Embalajes-de-Chile-727975393879228
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cenem
• Instagraminstagram.com/cenem_chile

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CENEM - Centro de Envases y Embalajes de Chile