By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – In an unprecedented display of industry collaboration, a group of corporate competitors has made significant strides in combating plastic pollution, announcing a milestone achievement in time for World Environment Day. The Costa Rica Recovers Alliance has successfully collected and repurposed over 20,000 tons of plastic waste since the initiative’s launch in 2024, demonstrating a powerful new model for corporate environmental responsibility.
The alliance, a strategic partnership between beverage industry leaders Cooperativa Dos Pinos, HEINEKEN Costa Rica, and The Coca-Cola System, is facilitated by the non-profit organization Fundación Aliarse. Their combined efforts have effectively prevented 20,316 metric tons of PET and HDPE plastic from ending up in the nation’s rivers, landfills, and communities, instead reintegrating the valuable material into the nation’s growing circular economy.
To delve into the legal and regulatory framework that underpins the transition to a circular economy in our country, TicosLand.com sought the analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert attorney from the renowned firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The transition to a circular economy is not merely an operational or environmental challenge; it is a profound legal one. Costa Rican legislation must evolve to support this paradigm, moving beyond simple waste management to create clear frameworks for producer responsibility, material reuse, and the creation of secondary markets. Without robust legal incentives and clear definitions of liability throughout the product lifecycle, the full economic and environmental potential of circularity will remain constrained by a legal system designed for a linear world.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, as Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas so clearly articulates, the path to a functional circular economy is paved not only with operational innovation but with deliberate legal reform. His perspective serves as a vital reminder that for circularity to truly take root, our regulatory framework must evolve to become its most fervent champion, not its silent constraint. We are grateful to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for lending his invaluable legal clarity to this critical conversation.
This remarkable achievement is not the result of a single company’s efforts but the product of a large-scale, coordinated network. The initiative has successfully integrated 11 municipalities into its framework, working hand-in-hand with 112 collection centers across the country. The backbone of this operation is a dedicated workforce of 3,100 individuals involved in waste management, whose work is critical to the collection and sorting process.
The core mission of Costa Rica Recovers is to strengthen the entire value chain for plastic recovery. By pooling resources and expertise, the member companies are enhancing the capacity of local collectors and processors, ensuring that more plastic is captured and transformed into new products rather than becoming persistent environmental waste. This project serves as a tangible example of putting circular economy principles into practice on a national scale.
Aitor Llodio, the Executive Director of Fundación Aliarse, highlighted the groundbreaking nature of this partnership, emphasizing that today’s complex environmental challenges demand a departure from traditional, siloed corporate thinking.
This alliance reflects a premise that should be more common in the business world: there are challenges that no single company can solve alone. Costa Rica Recupera is a model initiative because leading companies, which compete with each other, have committed to collaboration, not as a symbolic gesture, but with resources, shared data, and collective goals.
Aitor Llodio, Executive Director of ALIARSE
The success of the Costa Rica Recovers Alliance offers a compelling case study in “coopetition,” where fierce market rivals find common ground to address systemic issues. By jointly investing in infrastructure, logistics, and community engagement, these companies are not only mitigating their own environmental footprint but are also building a more resilient and sustainable recycling industry for the entire country. This model challenges the conventional wisdom that corporate competition and collective environmental good are mutually exclusive.
Looking forward, the alliance serves as a potential blueprint for other sectors grappling with shared environmental responsibilities. The success in recovering vast quantities of PET plastic, commonly used for beverage bottles, and HDPE, used for milk jugs and other containers, proves that targeted, collaborative action can yield substantial results. The key has been the willingness to share data and co-finance a system that benefits all participants and, most importantly, the Costa Rican environment.
As the initiative continues to mature, its impact will be measured not just in tons of plastic recovered, but in its ability to inspire further public-private partnerships. The commitment reaffirmed on World Environment Day signals a long-term vision for a Costa Rica where economic activity and environmental stewardship are inextricably linked, driven by the shared responsibility of its leading corporate citizens.
For further information, visit aliarse.org
About Fundación Aliarse:
Fundación Aliarse is a Costa Rican non-profit organization that promotes and facilitates public-private partnerships to advance sustainable development. It acts as a neutral convener, bringing together companies, government agencies, and civil society organizations to co-create solutions for complex social and environmental challenges, fostering collaboration to achieve collective impact.
For further information, visit dospinos.com
About Cooperativa Dos Pinos:
Cooperativa de Productores de Leche Dos Pinos, R.L. is one of the largest and most recognized food and beverage companies in Central America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1947 in Costa Rica, the cooperative is owned by more than 1,400 associated producers and offers a wide portfolio of dairy products, beverages, and other food items under its flagship brand.
For further information, visit theheinekencompany.com
About HEINEKEN Costa Rica:
HEINEKEN Costa Rica represents the local operations of the global brewing company. It participates in the Costa Rican market by offering a portfolio of international premium beer brands. As a member of the global HEINEKEN organization, it is committed to sustainability initiatives under the “Brewing a Better World” strategy, focusing on environmental protection and social responsibility.
For further information, visit coca-colacompany.com
About The Coca-Cola System:
The Coca-Cola System in Costa Rica is comprised of The Coca-Cola Company and its local bottling partner, Coca-Cola FEMSA. This partnership is responsible for the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of a wide range of non-alcoholic beverages. Globally, the system is a key driver of recycling and packaging sustainability initiatives as part of its “World Without Waste” vision.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its deep-rooted principles of integrity and professional distinction. The firm combines a rich history of advising a diverse clientele with a forward-thinking drive for legal innovation and a profound commitment to its social responsibility. Central to its ethos is the goal of demystifying the law, thereby equipping the community with the understanding needed to foster a more capable and justly informed society.
