An interdisciplinary team of students and professors from Santo Tomás Professional Institute, San Joaquín campus, developed **Insuflex**, a **recycled material [with thermal, acoustic, and fireproof properties](https://noticiasambientales.com/innovacion/c3-climate-change-clothing-ofrece-tecnologia-textil-para-el-confort-termico-y-adaptacion-climatica-laboral/)**, created from **beverage cartons (Tetra Pak type)**.
The initiative, which arose from the **Engineering and Communication careers**, was one of the winners of the institutional fund *Transformar para Impactar*. It will represent Chile in an **international internship in Medellín** on Social Innovation.
“We wondered what we could do from the Sound area to apply for funding, and we decided to focus on recycling, but with application in construction,” explained **Pablo Urrutia**, Sound careers coordinator at IP-CFT Santo Tomás.
## Insuflex, the material created from recycled containers
Inspired by the widespread use of **projected cellulose in ceilings and partitions**, the team sought to separate the components of **Tetra Pak containers** to **recover the cellulose** and transform it into an **insufflated material** for structures, with the capacity to:
– Thermally insulate spaces
– Dampen sound
– Resist fire
The name **Insuflex** comes from the “insufflation” technique, which consists of **injecting insulating material** into hollow structures such as false walls or metal partitions.
“From Sound, we contributed in acoustics. It was crucial to involve Engineering area professors, such as Professor Douglas Fernández, to validate the chemical component of the material,” detailed Urrutia.
## Industry engagement and focus on circular economy
One of the driving forces behind the project was its **collaboration with Tetra Pak**, a leading packaging solutions company, interested in developing **a recycling plant in Chile**.
“We spoke with Gianfranco Raglianti, Tetra Pak’s sustainability manager, and discovered that our ideas were aligned: [transforming complex waste](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/energia-limpia-con-sello-escolar-alumnos-de-santiago-del-estero-transformaron-los-residuos-en-algo-mas/) into useful inputs for the industry,” explained Urrutia.
## Educational and global projection
**Rodrigo Escobar**, a Sound Engineering student and team member, highlighted the professional impact generated by his participation:
“Innovation is paving the way for new opportunities. This idea that originated from us can scale, be exportable, and generate economic and technological value beyond the local scope,” he stated.
The project’s national recognition led the team to be selected for an **international internship in Medellín, Colombia**, where they will deepen their knowledge of **social innovation** in emerging territories.
