Orchestra 
DIGITAL WORLD
BRICS+ Media Centre 
MODERN RUSSIAN 
Chile extends restrictions under single-use plastics law
New regulations require supermarkets to display at least 30 per cent returnable bottles
Chile has begun implementing a new phase of its law aimed at reducing single-use plastics, expanding restrictions to restaurants, shops, and supermarkets, according to Crónica Digital, a partner of TV BRICS. The updated regulations are designed to reduce pollution and advance the transition towards a circular economy by limiting the delivery and use of disposable plastic products.
The measure stipulates that food outlets are prohibited from providing single-use plastic items for on-site consumption unless these are made from certified biodegradable materials such as cardboard, paper or wood. Outside the premises, plastics may be supplied only at the explicit request of customers and must comply with recyclability or environmental certification requirements.
In addition, the regulation requires supermarkets and beverage stores to display at least 30 per cent of their products in returnable bottles, reinforcing national efforts to promote reuse and minimise waste. This requirement complements earlier measures, including the gradual increase in recycled content in disposable plastic bottles.
Several countries, including the BRICS countries, are promoting initiatives aimed at reducing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable solutions.
In China, a team of researchers from Wuhan University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology have developed a biodegradable and reusable foam capable of removing up to 99.8 per cent of microplastics from water during its first application, according to China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS.
The material, produced from chitin extracted from squid bones and cotton cellulose, retains more than 95 per cent efficiency after five reuse cycles and remains unaffected by heavy metals or other contaminants, underscoring its potential for large-scale industrial and domestic water treatment.
Meanwhile, according to Daily News Egypt, a partner of TV BRICS, a national campaign has been launched in Egypt to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags. The initiative, promoted by the Ministry of Environment, aims to support the development of a greener economy, lower reliance on imported raw materials and mitigate the impact of plastic waste on marine ecosystems.
Meanwhile, in Argentina, Elangeni Gilbert, a researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council, is leading a “super-recycling” project that transforms plastic waste into new reusable molecules to produce biodegradable plastics and other high value-added materials, reported Ahora San Juan, a TV BRICS partner.
The method enables chemical depolymerisation of bisphenol A polycarbonate at low temperature and pressure using environmentally friendly organic catalysts.
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32 minutes 24 sec.