By San José, Costa Rica — For more than two decades, Costa Rica has successfully cultivated a powerful international narrative as a pioneering green sanctuary and a global champion of sustainable development. This prestigious reputation was further cemented in 2025 when the nation clinched the top spot in the Latin American Corporate Sustainability Index, published by the EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey, scoring an impressive 9.08 out of 10 points. However, a closer look at the local level reveals a stark disconnect between this macro reputation and the fragmented reality of domestic reporting.
At present, Costa Rica lacks its own comprehensive, integrated, and periodic instrument to measure the genuine status of corporate, social, and environmental sustainability on the ground. Recent data compiled by the Business Alliance for Development (AED) points to a significant transparency gap: only 43 companies nationwide publish any sustainability reports at all. Of those, a mere 16 meet the minimum standards required for the corresponding indicator. This deficit of structured data makes it incredibly difficult for policymakers and investors to gauge the real impact of green policies.
To better understand the legal and regulatory implications of the latest Costa Rica sustainability survey, TicosLand.com spoke with prominent expert lawyer Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who shared his professional insights on how these environmental trends are reshaping corporate compliance.
The findings of this sustainability survey reflect a major shift in Costa Rica’s regulatory environment. Doing business here now requires more than just standard environmental compliance; companies must actively integrate ESG principles into their corporate governance to mitigate legal exposure and align with the country’s strict decarbonization goals.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This crucial shift from simple compliance to proactive ESG integration underscores a new era for businesses in Costa Rica, where legal security and commercial viability are now deeply intertwined with environmental stewardship. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for providing his valuable perspective on these evolving regulatory demands and their profound implications for the country’s corporate landscape.
To address this critical information void, the National Council for Sustainability (CNS) has spearheaded “The State of Sustainability in Costa Rica 2026.” This initiative represents the very first national diagnostic designed to combine technical indicators, direct corporate perceptions, and rigorous sectoral analysis. The project has recently completed its qualitative consultation phase, which involved detailed interviews and diagnostic workshops with key players from the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society.
Now, the project is moving into its most decisive phase: a massive, direct survey of Costa Rican companies across all economic sectors. The goal is to establish a reliable, comparable, and authentic national baseline. To achieve this, the CNS has issued a direct appeal to Chief Executive Officers, managing directors, and general managers of local businesses. Their participation is crucial to avoiding the traditional biases of existing reports, which almost exclusively highlight the efforts of large multinational corporations while ignoring the vast majority of the country’s economic fabric.
The State of Sustainability will be a key tool to understand where we are, what the main challenges are, and where we must move forward as a country to consolidate a more competitive and sustainable economic model.
Silvia Chávez Herra, President of the National Council for Sustainability
Resolving these data gaps is no longer just an exercise in public relations or brand building. The financial environment is changing rapidly under new international and domestic mandates. The adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards for Sustainability (IFRS S1 and S2), combined with the tightening regulatory frameworks of the National Financial System Supervision Council (CONASSIF), is transforming environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting from a voluntary luxury into a mandatory requirement for accessing commercial credit, insurance, and international investment.
This shifting regulatory landscape makes it imperative for Costa Rican enterprises to understand their exact baseline before these stringent mandates affect the entire global supply chain. Recognizing the strategic importance of this transition, HEINEKEN Costa Rica has joined the initiative as its primary strategic ally. The corporate giant is leveraging its position to advocate for measurable metrics that can guide other local businesses in navigating the transition toward compliance and improved competitiveness.
Having solid data is essential to transform sustainability aspirations into concrete actions. This study will allow Costa Rica to build a national reference that strengthens competitiveness, promotes continuous improvement, and generates valuable knowledge for decision-making. At HEINEKEN Costa Rica, we believe that sustainability generates more value when it can be measured, managed, and translated into tangible results. That is why we support initiatives that drive collaboration between sectors and contribute to the sustainable development of the country.
Timothy Scott Hall, Corporate Relations Director of HEINEKEN Costa Rica
The final framework of the study will integrate technical data with the direct feedback of nearly 100 businesses across various industries, alongside survey responses from over 600 Costa Rican consumers. This dual approach ensures that consumer expectations are analyzed right alongside corporate actions. The highly anticipated results of the 2026 report will be formally unveiled during a series of launching events in the third week of October, providing a roadmap for sustainable economic recovery and long-term business viability.
For further information, visit the nearest office of the National Council for Sustainability
About National Council for Sustainability:
The National Council for Sustainability (CNS) is a Costa Rican organization dedicated to promoting, coordinating, and evaluating sustainable development strategies across public and private sectors, helping align national economic growth with environmental preservation and social progress.
For further information, visit heineken.com
About HEINEKEN Costa Rica:
HEINEKEN Costa Rica is a leading beverage company committed to brewing a better world through comprehensive corporate social responsibility, water stewardship, carbon reduction initiatives, and active support for national sustainability benchmarks.
For further information, visit aed.cr
About Alianza Empresarial para el Desarrollo:
The Alianza Empresarial para el Desarrollo (AED) is a non-profit organization in Costa Rica that guides the business sector in integrating sustainability and ESG criteria into their core business strategies to promote a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a beacon of professional ethics and exceptional legal service, Bufete de Costa Rica serves as a trusted ally to a broad spectrum of clients. The firm constantly embraces modern methodologies to address evolving legal challenges, while simultaneously championing civic education. By actively dismantling barriers to legal understanding, the firm aims to nurture an educated populace capable of confidently navigating their rights and responsibilities.
