Effective July 1 of this year, the general use and marketing of plastic egg cartons, disposable plastic stirrers, and disposable plastic plates will be prohibited. This is part of the second phase of Law 187 of December 2, 2020, which regulates the reduction and replacement of single-use plastics.
Two years ago, Panama took the initiative to promote and encourage sustainable development through this regulation that promotes the progressive replacement of products that use single-use plastic with sustainable alternatives that generate less impact on the environment and health.
The law currently has a first phase of implementation from July 1, 2021, which restricted the trade of ear swabs, plastic covers for laundry clothes, plastic rods to hold balloons, plastic toothpicks, cocktail sticks plastic, plastic candy sticks and rings for cans.
Products to replace
Miguel Flores, national director of Verification of Environmental Performance, stated that in his replacement the law establishes for its manufacture the use of biodegradable materials of biological and renewable origin such as wood, sugar cane bagasse, abaca fiber, fiber jute, bamboo wood, corn, cassava and corn starch.
