At a Glance
Location: Punto Arenas, Magallanes, Chile
Impact Areas: Employment Generation
People Supported:
Low-income Women
NESsT Program: South America Acclerator
Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2026
When Constanza Araya and Mauricio Barría worked for cleaning companies in Denmark and Sweden, they saw that cleaning could be treated differently: as skilled work that provides good pay and dignified working conditions. When they returned to Chile, they set out to bring that approach to Magallanes.
They founded EcoAustral in 2021, starting with residential cleaning before expanding to offices, hotels, tourism businesses, and other commercial clients. At the heart of the company’s model is a commitment to creating better jobs for women in a sector where informal employment remains widespread.
In Chile, around 216,000 women work in domestic services, and 61% work informally (INE, national data, June–August 2026), often earning less than the minimum wage. EcoAustral offers an alternative. Its cleaning professionals, known as “eco-partners,” have formal employment contracts and receive training, uniforms, and the materials they need to do their jobs. Flexible schedules also help them balance work with family responsibilities.
EcoAustral’s sustainable approach also extends to the environmental impact of its services. The company uses biodegradable cleaning products from Chilean brand FreeMet, a Certified B Corporation, as well as steam-cleaning equipment and industrial vacuum cleaners that reduce water and energy use. These choices also help limit workers’ and customers’ exposure to potentially harmful cleaning chemicals.
The company uses a digital platform to manage each service and monitor customer satisfaction, and it provides monthly environmental impact reports. EcoAustral has also expanded into recycling, collecting plastic, cardboard, glass, cans, and cooking oil from 14 businesses and 15 households in partnership with local recycling operators.
Results & Impact
100
dignified jobs for women by 2029
33%
increase in hourly wages for EcoAustral workers
32 tons
recyclable waste collected in 2025
““When we worked in Europe, we saw that cleaning could be a well-paid and respected profession, and we wanted to bring that model to Magallanes [Chile]. Every woman who joins EcoAustral receives a formal employment contract, training, and the flexibility she needs to balance work with the rest of her life. We also promote the use of eco-friendly cleaning products as a way to help our customers understand the importance of protecting the environment.” ”
NESsT Investment
EcoAustral is the first social enterprise in NESsT’s portfolio in the Magallanes region. NESsT will provide a recoverable grant in three disbursements to finance working capital and support the redesign of EcoAustral’s website and marketing strategy.
Through NESsT’s acceleration program, EcoAustral will also receive tailored business support to strengthen its financial management and internal controls, commercial strategy, operations, and people management. This will include developing career pathways for its eco-partners. The long-term goal is to help EcoAustral strengthen its presence in Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales.