The report “Designing Effective Reuse Policies: Regional Recommendations for South America 2026”, prepared by the Global Plastics Policy Centre, Fundación Chile, and the University of St Andrews, warns that packaging reuse systems in the region still have limited development, despite their environmental and economic benefits.
The study analyzed the cases of Argentina, Colombia, and Chile, proposing a model to consolidate reuse systems that are currently fragile and fragmented.
Chile as a Reference
Chile is considered a Latin American leader in reuse thanks to its legislation, such as the Single-Use Plastics Law (Law No. 21.368). However, the report notes that its implementation has been partial and that the practice of returnable packaging remains almost exclusively in the soft drink segment, without expanding to other products.
The Chilean Plastics Pact (PCP) has promoted pilot projects and implementation guides, with companies like Coca-Cola Chile, Ecocarga, and Condevuelta betting on reuse.
Situation in Argentina and Colombia
In both countries, there are regulations that mention reuse, but they lack sufficient incentives.
The study emphasizes that for reuse systems to be viable, they must be competitive against single-use packaging and have financial and regulatory support.
Benefits of Reuse
Reuse systems are key for waste prevention and resource efficiency:
- Reduction of emissions: up to 20% less greenhouse gases in consumer goods by 2030.
- Decrease in waste: extend the lifespan of products and reduce the demand for virgin materials.
- Economic opportunities: generate employment in logistics, cleaning, repair, and redistribution.
- Expanding market: the global reuse market is expected to exceed 100 billion dollars by 2030.
Study Recommendations
To break out of the current stagnation, the report proposes five strategic measures:
- Coherent national frameworks for reuse.
- Financial and market incentives that make reuse competitive.
- Integration into Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
- Strengthen governance and institutional coordination.
- Encourage citizen participation and social inclusion in policy design.
A Necessary Change of Approach
Current funding has been primarily directed towards recycling, leaving reuse in the background. The study recommends redirecting financial instruments towards the development of reuse capacity and creating shared infrastructure to scale these practices.
Reuse should not be seen as a marginal practice but as a central strategy to address the plastics crisis.
With coherent policies, adequate incentives, and citizen participation, South America can transform its consumption systems towards more sustainable, innovative, and job-generating models.
