The Gran Chaco Charcoal Consortium, an innovative initiative that brings together primary producers, a processing center, an exporter and an importer, has achieved a historic milestone by exporting premium white quebracho charcoal to Valencia, Spain, for the first time. This achievement, backed by technical support from the Gran Chaco Foundation and the Impacto Verde project, marks a significant step towards building a fair and sustainable marketing chain.
On April 10, a container loaded with 15 kg laminated raffia bags of white quebracho charcoal with a particle size greater than 50 mm, completely dust-free, arrived at its destination in Valencia. This shipment was prepared with the aim of distributing samples to potential clients in the European market, specifically in the restaurant sector.
Behind this feat lies an unprecedented collaborative effort, where each actor committed to responsibly fulfilling their stage of work. Victor Hernandez, from BIOCHACO SAS, the exporting company, expressed his satisfaction: «For my part, I feel very proud, because although coal is a commodity, this shipment has an identity. It has the faces of Daniel, Vicente, Carlos, Adrián, Christian and all the members of the consortium. It seems impossible, but the union of a group can make it possible for a regional product to be present on a shelf more than 12,000 km away.«.
Marcelo Navall, forestry technician at the Gran Chaco Foundation, highlighted the speed and efficiency with which this first shipment was achieved: «We started working on this initiative on January 24, and just 4 months later, we were able to agree on the internal operation, decide on the product we were going to ship, collaboratively distribute the costs of assembling the first container, all the logistical effort of gathering, classifying and bagging the coal, and finally complete the logistics of freight, export and international shipping.«.
Roberto Ferreyra, from Sustainable Industrialized Carbon, the Spanish importing company, highlighted the importance of this collaborative approach: «Our company has been importing coal to Spain for 14 years. But this time it is different, we are starting a very different team work. We are certain that all the requirements are met so that the business can gradually grow. Having production and sales in this business in the same group, now a Consortium, is ensuring a good future.«.
A key aspect of this initiative is its commitment to sustainability and compliance with the requirements of European Union Regulation 1115/23 on deforestation- and forest degradation-free production, which will come into force in 2025. According to Navall, "We are confident that our product has the quality and commitments that will help us open a space in the European market. The ideal future for me is to be able to reach more producers, with a concrete proposal for better business, associated with commitments to regenerative management of their forests.«.
The testimonies of the producers involved reflect the enthusiasm and expectations generated by this initiative. Vicente Ledesma, from Carbonería Ledesma, said: «Thank God I was able to participate in this consortium with responsible and honest people, which is difficult to find these days, and work to guarantee the sustainability of our small producers and the Santiago forests.«.
Jessica Cuellar and Adrián Perez, a family of charcoal producers and merchants from Taco Pozo, highlighted: «Thanks to the intervention, respect and trust that the consortium provided to the associates, this first shipment was possible. We agree with the policy that the consortium manages and implements, since it is the way that we can be sustainable over time. For small producers it is a great help that all parties are aligned.«.
Carlos Hienzen, a charcoal producer and marketer from Los Tigres, mentioned “"Years ago we tried to make an effort to export, but it was too complex and unknown for the primary producer. Today, with this partnership of trust, we can each do our job, benefit the whole group by doing it well and earn more by working as partners and not just suppliers."
Christian Monti, a charcoal producer and marketer from Frías, expressed his excitement at seeing a dream come true: «As an entrepreneur, I feel that this is reaching the end of a dream that was once a thought. I hope that with this work, a change will be reflected in small and medium producers for a better and dignified life that from the beginning has been worked in extreme conditions and dignifies such effort.«.
This first shipment to the European market represents a crucial step in building a fair marketing channel that allows quality charcoal, free of deforestation and degradation, produced by families living in the mountains of the Argentine Gran Chaco, to reach the most demanding markets. The Gran Chaco Charcoal Consortium is demonstrating that unity, collaboration and commitment to sustainability can open up new opportunities and generate a positive impact on local communities and the environment.
