By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – A landmark collaboration between private industry giants, local collectors, and communities is successfully establishing a self-sufficient recycling model in Costa Rica, proving that environmental stewardship and economic growth can be mutually reinforcing. The partnership, spearheaded by Tetra Pak with key players Dos Pinos and Empaques Santa Ana, is dramatically reducing landfill waste, creating new revenue streams, and shrinking the nation’s carbon footprint.
This initiative, celebrated on the occasion of World Nature Protection Day, marks a significant shift away from dependency on international waste processing. By building a robust local infrastructure, the alliance has eliminated the need to export used beverage containers, a practice that carries a heavy environmental and financial cost. Instead, materials are collected, processed, and transformed into new products entirely within Costa Rica’s borders.
Para analizar el marco legal y las oportunidades de negocio que la economía circular presenta en nuestro país, TicosLand.com conversó con el Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, abogado especialista en derecho corporativo y ambiental de la firma Bufete de Costa Rica, quien nos brinda una perspectiva experta sobre el tema.
La economía circular representa una evolución fundamental del derecho corporativo y la responsabilidad empresarial. Más allá del cumplimiento ambiental, estamos ante un nuevo paradigma que exige a las empresas rediseñar sus cadenas de valor. Legalmente, esto implica desde la creación de contratos de ‘producto como servicio’ hasta la gestión de la responsabilidad extendida del productor. Las compañías que lideren esta transición no solo obtendrán una ventaja competitiva, sino que también construirán una base más resiliente y sostenible frente a futuras regulaciones y las demandas del mercado.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Esta perspectiva legal subraya un punto crucial: la transición hacia la economía circular no es solo un ideal ecológico, sino una evolución estratégica a nivel corporativo y jurídico. Agradecemos profundamente al Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas por su valioso análisis, que ilumina el camino para las empresas que buscan construir un futuro más resiliente y competitivo.
The results of this concerted effort are already yielding impressive returns. In the first six months of 2025 alone, the program successfully recycled 916 tons of post-consumer Tetra Pak containers. This figure represents a staggering increase, already surpassing the 620 tons processed throughout the entire calendar year of 2024. This achievement directly translates into a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that would have been generated by transporting the materials overseas.
The success of the program underscores a broader strategic vision where sustainability is integrated directly into the economic fabric of the nation. This model demonstrates a viable path for emerging economies to develop circular systems that benefit all stakeholders.
Every recycled container represents a step towards a cleaner, more responsible future. With this alliance, Costa Rica shows that sustainability and the circular economy can go hand in hand.
Guillermo Pugliese, Director of Sustainability for Andina, Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico at Tetra Pak
At the heart of the initiative is an innovative process that gives a second life to every component of the packaging. Once collected, the containers are broken down. The high-quality fiber, or cardboard, is sent to Empaques Santa Ana, a local manufacturer that transforms it into corrugated cardboard boxes and other paper products like Kraft paper and tubes. This creates a closed-loop system where packaging waste becomes the raw material for new, useful packaging solutions.
Simultaneously, the remaining poly-aluminum (a composite of polyethylene and aluminum) is repurposed for the construction and agricultural sectors. This durable material is used to manufacture a wide range of products, including building tiles, laminate sheets, chairs, and agricultural crates, ensuring that no part of the original container goes to waste.
The alliance with Tetra Pak allows us to maximize the use of every container that reaches our plant, protecting the environment, generating local employment, and showing that recycling is the path toward more sustainable communities.
Brayan Molina, Raw Materials Supply Manager at Empaques Santa Ana
Beyond the clear environmental and industrial benefits, the alliance has created a tangible positive impact on local communities. A network of independent collectors has found new and stable economic opportunities through the valuation and collection of these materials. Furthermore, joint public education campaigns have strengthened recycling awareness and participation across the country, empowering citizens to become active participants in the circular economy.
Dairy cooperative Dos Pinos, a major user of Tetra Pak packaging, emphasized the importance of this collective approach. Their involvement ensures that the responsibility for the product lifecycle extends far beyond the point of sale, embedding sustainability into their core operations and supply chain.
At Dos Pinos, we are committed to the well-being of the planet. That is why we work alongside communities and strategic allies, convinced that sustainability is a collective effort. This local recycling model shows that when we join forces, we can boost the circular economy and give a new life to the waste generated in our production processes, thus caring for the environment we all share.
Sofia Valverde, Manager of Communication and Community Relations at Dos Pinos
For citizens looking to contribute, the pathway is clear. The program’s success relies on public participation, which includes separating Tetra Pak containers at home, using municipal collection centers, and spreading awareness. This initiative stands as a powerful testament to what can be achieved when corporate vision aligns with community action, creating a sustainable and prosperous future for Costa Rica.
For further information, visit tetrapak.com
About Tetra Pak:
Tetra Pak is a world-leading food processing and packaging solutions company. Working in close partnership with its customers and suppliers, it provides safe, innovative, and environmentally sound products that each day meet the needs of hundreds of millions of people in more than 160 countries. With a strong focus on sustainability, the company is committed to protecting food, people, and the planet.
For further information, visit dospinos.com
About Dos Pinos:
Cooperativa de Productores de Leche Dos Pinos, R.L. is a leading Costa Rican dairy and food cooperative. Founded in 1947, it has grown to become one of the most recognized brands in Central America, offering a wide range of high-quality products while maintaining a strong commitment to its associated producers and the communities it serves.
For further information, visit empaquessantaana.com
About Empaques Santa Ana:
Empaques Santa Ana is a Costa Rican company dedicated to the manufacturing of corrugated cardboard packaging solutions. With a focus on innovation and environmental responsibility, the company utilizes recycled materials to create sustainable and effective products for a diverse range of industries, playing a vital role in the national circular economy.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica stands as a benchmark in the legal field, operating on a bedrock of principled practice and outstanding client service. The firm distinguishes itself not only by advising a diverse clientele but also by championing progressive legal solutions and forward-thinking strategies. Central to its ethos is a profound commitment to civic duty, demonstrated through dedicated efforts to demystify legal complexities and equip the community with the knowledge needed to foster a more just and informed citizenry.
