Sustainability as a Science
The labs helping mines cut emissions and close resource loops
From developing greener reagents to minimizing energy consumption and ensuring responsible water management, lab services and laboratories enable mining companies to meet the stringent environmental mandates that Chile imposes on companies operating within its borders.
BASF puts a lot of its recent success down to its lab in Antofagasta, which gives the company proximity to its customers. The laboratory is at the forefront of producing hydrometallurgical reagents that are designed to lower the environmental footprint. “Sustainability is one of the key pillars of our strategy. For example, globally, by 2030, we aim to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 25% compared to 2018 data, and by 2050, we target to achieve net zero. Considering our global portfolio, one-third of our products are already classified as sustainable,” explained Gulden Ergun, manager of mining business, BASF Chile.
Furthermore, by tailoring tests to local ore characteristics and water chemistries, BASF helps operators optimize copper recovery with fewer chemicals and less acid consumption. Ergun added: “LixTRA supports environmentally responsible mining by reducing net acid consumption, lowering overall mining costs, and extending the life of mines. It enhances recovery from historically difficult-to-leach primary sulfides and integrates well with other emerging leaching technologies, particularly in the field of primary sulfide leaching.”
“With LixTRA, we are targeting increased efficiency in the leaching process, increasing copper recovery without harming the solvent extraction-electrowinning processes.”
Gülden Ergün, Manager of Mining Business, BASF Chile
Embedding sustainability into its lab infrastructure and protocols has been an important part of Bureau Veritas as it heads towards its 200th anniversary in 2028, a strategy the company calls Leap28. In Chile, Bureau Veritas is leveraging automation, renewable energy and circular economy principles to make its testing services greener. “Clients today expect service providers to incorporate sustainability principles into their operations, and we embrace that responsibility. In mining, the shift towards using industrial water and desalination poses operational challenges, and Bureau Veritas supports clients by testing processes, ensuring water quality, and informing decision-making to manage risks,” outlined Marco Santos, director of minerals and metals at Bureau Veritas Chile.
Beyond testing ore and process streams, the company also assesses recycling streams. By certifying reused materials and advising on circular workflows, Bureau Veritas ensures that mining sites can close resource loops rather than rely solely on virgin inputs. Carlos Guzman, country chief executive of Bureau Veritas, revealed: “Our laboratories operate with renewable energy, and we are certified under ISO 50001 for energy efficiency. We actively support clients by inspecting water transport infrastructure and promoting circular economy initiatives, such as recycling work uniforms.”
SGS is known globally for its testing, inspection, and certification services, which in Chile have led to the company naturally playing a role in the mining industry. SGS’s Natural Resources division has embraced digital transformation to provide real-time, on-site testing that drives both operational efficiency and environmental compliance. “Older mineral deposits and deeper mining operations increase treatment risks, quality risks, regulation risks, and carbon footprint concerns. Any increased movement, whether energy, water or fuel consumption, generates risk, especially today with sustainability concerns,” highlighted Mauricio Rocha, managing director of SGS in Chile.
“Mining companies today are focusing heavily on grade precision and quality assurance throughout their processes. Mechanical sample preparation and chemical analysis play a fundamental role in achieving this.”
Marco Santos, Director Minerals and Metals, Bureau Veritas Chile
Rather than shipping samples off-site and waiting days for results, SGS deploys sensors, hyperspectral imaging, and remote monitoring to continuously track process parameters, which can help conserve resources. Rocha elaborated: “The need now is to measure on-site and deliver results practically in real-time so the result calibrates faster than the variability. This requires digital solutions: sensors, digital monitoring tools, and control-room oversight to track variations in equipment status, corrosion levels, or potential failures.”
Laboratories have evolved into strategic champions of sustainability in Chilean mining. By aligning test methods with greener chemistries, powering labs with renewables and circular-economy principles, and embedding digital, on-site monitoring to minimize waste and emissions, Chile’s laboratories sectors demonstrate how advanced lab services are indispensable for reducing environmental impact. As Chilean mining pursues net-zero targets and tighter water regulations, lab-driven insights and innovations will continue to safeguard both profitability and the planet.
“Previously, we would do specific testing or inspection and deliver results. Now clients require integrated services that address sustainability concerns, waste management, community relationships, and labor issues.”
Mauricio Rocha, Managing Director, SGS
Article header image by Bruno Weltmann at Adobe Stock