Chile Senate approves bill that could allow plastic bags in supermarkets

A bill to modify the ‘Chao Bolsas Plásticas’ law has passed the Chilean Senate and is now moving to the Environmental Commission of the Chamber of Deputies. The proposed legislation would allow the return of plastic bags to commerce, provided they meet specific durability requirements to be classified as reusable and are manufactured from 100% recycled plastic made in Chile or from compostable raw materials.

Since the implementation of Law 21.100 in 2018, the Ministry of the Environment reports that more than 13.6 billion plastic bags have been removed from circulation. Environmental experts and sustainability leaders have expressed concern that the new project could represent a significant setback to the waste reduction progress achieved over the last eight years. Critics argue that reintroducing commercialized bags, even those made from recycled materials, could weaken public policy and undermine established consumer habits.