I'm not here just because I want to be an entrepreneur, I'm here because I want to solve this problem, because I've seen how it affects people.
Constanza Gomez Co-Founder and CEO of Sortile
Constanza Gomez - Co-Founder and Ceo of Sortile
2026 WE Empower UN SDG Challenge Finalist, Latin America and Caribbean
Coming from Chile, Constanza Gomez grew up aware of the large amounts of textile waste affecting her country. Though she was raised by an entrepreneur parent, Constanza never intended to become an entrepreneur. Despite her initial resistance, Constanza ended up becoming a leader in textile waste management because of her fervent passion for solving this problem. Northern Chile is among the largest dumping grounds for textiles, and during her research into Latin American companies, she stumbled upon supply chain management issues. Having majored in industrial engineering and computer science, Constanza began prototyping a hardware device that determines the type of materials used in textile production. To advance this material intelligence, Constanza founded Sortile, making circularity in the fashion industry a reality.
Using Technology to Decrease Waste
Sortile is a hardware device with sensors that gather information about textiles, including data about fiber content, color, and construction. The technology also tracks the textile at an affordable price. Given Chile's size, Constanza explains that 500,000 tons of textile waste are generated in the nation each year. The waste stems from both secondhand imports and from general usage by Chilean citizens. In creating Sortile, Constanza is working to mitigate excess waste by redirecting it. By quickly understanding textile and fiber content with 95% accuracy, it is possible to redirect waste to facilities seeking specific fiber content. For example, if a supplier is seeking materials that are 100% polyester, the Sortile device can detect the fiber’s composition and verify its material makeup. The textile can then be redirected to those seeking polyester instead of going to dumping grounds. Sortile’s overarching mission is to sort and characterize materials in the most efficient and value-driven way.
Commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Constanza’s work heavily aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sortile directly supports SDG 13 (Climate Action) by diverting textiles from landfills through recycling or downcycling, thus reducing methane emissions coming from landfills in Chile and beyond. Working with fiber-to-fiber recyclers, Sortile supports SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) in promoting responsible production. By reusing fibers and adopting pathways for responsible production instead of making new textiles, existing textiles are identified for reuse. Constanza recognizes that the reuse of materials is not a complete solution for sustainability, but instead a piece of a larger, more sustainable puzzle. Additionally, Sortile advances SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by providing an outlet for consumers to send their textile waste for proper management. Through reduction of textile waste, Constanza is promoting sustainable cities and communities.
The Future of Creating Sustainable Environments
In the process of working towards creating a more sustainable future, Constanza prioritizes collaboration. As a CEO, Constanza demonstrates her leadership through transparency with her team. Working with one another to solve tricky situations and being honest allows for support and the creation of an environment that fosters innovation and advancement.
On Sortile's road to growth, Constanza hopes to see more change as Chile moves forward and implements textile EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility), shifting the burden of managing waste from local governments to manufacturers. Taking into account textile waste’s impacts in northern Chile, Constanza anticipates finding ways to utilize her technology in a cleaner, faster, and more accurate manner. Sortile’s aim to create a sustainable future includes increased consumer education and awareness of sustainable practices, as well as supply chain innovations and exploring new technologies that can augment the current work that Sortile is driving.
Reflecting on the next generation of sustainability advocates, Constanza shares: "Go for it. I do think sometimes there's so many forces fighting against you that you get a little scared and you get a little nervous, and you don't push through, and I think we're more resilient than we give ourselves credit for." - Constanza Gomez
By Emely Popoca, HON394 Student