Abstract

Used for washing since ancient times theextract of the saponin rich bark of the Chilean Soapbarktree Quillaja saponaria was exported since 1880 to fulfil thefast growing demand for Quillaja as a foaming agent,emulsifier, and detergent for a multitude of industrialpurposes. Traditionally only the bark was extracted and the wood of the felled tree, equalling 95 percent of the biomass, was left to rot. To stop the wastage and the damage to environment, Natural Response, the CatholicUniversity of Chile and Desert King International developeda new process strategy for saponin extraction of the entirewood. New sustainable harvesting regimes, the increasingplantations and reforestation policies guarantee future bioavailability and benefit the environment and thepeasant population as well.