Plastic pollution is an increasingly visible environmental issue worldwide. For this reason, Chile decided to take a step towards environmental care with a law that bans the use of single-use plastics in the gastronomic sector.
The new regulation prohibits the use of these plastics in restaurants, cafes, food courts, and other businesses in the sector. According to the authorities, this measure aims to reduce the generation of waste that generally ends up in landfills, rivers, or oceans.
The new choices are reusable alternatives or made with compostable materials, which will help significantly reduce the volume of plastic waste in the gastronomic sector, being one of the main emitters of disposables in the city.
In this way, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, and disposable plastic containers will no longer be a regular part of service in the country.
A change in consumption that helps care for the environment
Since the life of single-use plastics can be useful for just a few minutes, only to become waste that will take hundreds of years to degrade, the Andean country decided to tackle the problem with this new law.
To adapt to it, many businesses had to change their suppliers, adjust costs, and reorganize their internal logistics. While it can become a difficult task, it can also represent an opportunity for businesses related to reusable containers and sustainable solutions.
In this regard, the transition process will take place gradually, with controls and possible sanctions for those who do not comply with the regulation, as the aim is for effective and sustained implementation over time.
Towards a culture of reusables
The new law not only proposes to abandon the use of disposable products but also a cultural change. This is because the regulation places responsibility not only on the State or businesses but also on consumers.
The latter are also considered part of the process of choosing reusable alternatives and supporting consumption models with less environmental impact.
What does this law imply?
The Law No. 21.368, enacted in 2021 and with its final phase effective from February 13, 2026, regulates and prohibits single-use plastics in Chile, impacting restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets to reduce waste generation in food establishments.
Key points of the regulation:
- Restrictions in food establishments (restaurants, cafes, deliveries): From February 13, 2026, establishments cannot provide single-use products (cutlery, straws, plates, cups, lids, stirrers) if the food is consumed on the premises, unless they are reusable or certified compostable.
- Home delivery (Delivery): Only certified disposable utensils are allowed if they are made of materials other than plastic (such as paper, cardboard) or certified compostable plastics.
- Supermarkets and beverages: Supermarkets are required to display at least 30% of their beverages in returnable bottles, promoting the circular economy.
- Prohibition of styrofoam: The delivery of styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) containers for food and beverages is prohibited.
- Enforcement: Municipalities are responsible for enforcing this law, and violations may result in fines for establishments.
The implementation has been gradual since 2021, focusing on a change of habits towards the consumption of reusable products, reducing the dependence on disposable plastics in the gastronomic industry.
