Destination… Chile

New Decree sets rules for plastic bottles and single-use plastics

On 7 January 2026, Decree 30 implementing Law No. 21,368 was published. It establishes the regulatory framework for the distribution of single-use plastics and plastic beverage bottles in Chile.

The Law distinguishes between cases where consumption takes place on the premises and those where consumption takes place off the premises:

• For the former, the delivery of single-use products is prohibited, under any title
• For the latter, the delivery of disposable products is permitted, provided they are made of resource-recoverable materials other than plastic, or of certified plastic

Decree 30 sets requirements for certified plastic products: these must be compostable (home or industrial) and at least 20% of total mass must come from renewable resources.

The Decree also sets certification procedures, which the Ministry of the Environment (MMA) regulates.

The regulation reaffirms the minimum recycled content requirements for disposable plastic beverage bottles stipulated in the Law: bottles must contain at least 15% domestically recycled content in 2025, which will progressively increase to 70% by 2060.

Labelling of certified plastics will become mandatory 18 months after the MMA’s notice triggering enforceability. By contrast, labelling requirements for PCR content are expanded, requiring each bottle to bear a lot number and QR code linking to the MMA platform. This obligation becomes enforceable 6 months after the notice.

Lastly, the Law clarifies the methodology for calculating and verifying compliance with the statutory requirement that supermarkets offer at least 30% returnable beverage bottles in their product displays.

Background: published in 2021, Law No. 21.368, aims to reduce the environmental impacts associated with single-use plastics, particularly those used in food service establishments and beverage packaging. It establishes phased implementation timelines for certain obligations and forms part of Chile’s broader circular economy policy framework.

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