Single use plastics bans in Colombia

Colombia has taken a step towards reducing the environmental impact of plastics through the passing of Legislation 2232 from 2022. This Legislation bans certain types of single use plastics (abbreviated as PUSU in Spanish), and is part of a global trend where material sustainability and circularity has become a priority for countries that are determined to combat plastic pollution.

What does Legislation 2232 from 2022 establish?

Legislation 2232 from 2022 is one of the most ambitious legislations in Latin America surrounding the reduction of single use plastics. It prohibits the production, importation, commercialization, and distribution of 14 different plastic products:

• Non reusable and industrial plastic bags
• Bags used to package newspapers, magazines, marketing materials, receipts, and clothing (ej. dry clean and laundry services)
• Bags used to package, carry, or transport packages and merchandise, and bulk products that are not raw animal products
• Food in bulk that is not raw animal products
• Packaging, containers, and bags for liquids that weren’t pre-filled for immediate use, and delivery
• Plates, trays, knives, forks, spoons, glasses, and food handling gloves
• Confetti, mantels, and streamers
• Beverage straws and stirrers
• Recipients and packaging to contain or transport food and meals that are not pre-filled, as established by existing legislation, and are for immediate consumption, or used for delivery
• Sheets to serve, package, wrap, or separate food for immediate consumption or for delivery
• Floss holders, or single use packaging for dental floss
• Plastic handles for cotton swabs
• Adhesives, labels, or whatever decal attached to vegetables
• Packaging, or any type of container used for the commercialization of fresh fruits, and root vegetables that already possess a peel; fresh aromatic herbs, vegetables, and mushrooms

The first set of banned products entered into effect on July 7th, 2024, and a week later Resolution 803 from 2024 was published, with the main purpose of regulating certain details in Legislation 2232 from 2022. However, the national government included in this document important changes related to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).