• The only company to recover 100% of the plastic packaging placed on the market in 2024, measured in metric tons.
• In total, 9,617 metric tons of non-returnable post-consumer waste were collected, 910 more than the previous year.
• The strategy includes collection routes, collection centers, partnerships with waste managers, and innovative packaging projects.

May 2025. As part of World Recycling Day, which takes place every May 17, FIFCO reaffirms its commitment to circular economy and responsible waste management after recovering 100% of the plastic packaging placed on the Costa Rican market in 2024 as part of its Post-Consumer Packaging Recycling Program.

This achievement is part of a comprehensive strategy that combines operational efficiency, innovation in packaging design, and a traceability model with proven environmental impact. A pioneer in recycling initiatives since 1995, FIFCO has maintained a sustained commitment to responsible waste management for nearly three decades, constantly evolving its practices towards a circular economy model. In total, 9,617 metric tons (MT) of non-returnable post-consumer waste were collected, representing an increase of 910 MT over the previous year. To achieve this, the company operates five collection routes (two in the GMA and three in rural areas), eight collection centers, and a transfer center, in addition to working with certified managers and exporters to ensure the recovery and final destination of the collected material.

“At FIFCO, we recognize that recycling, while important, is only one of the tools in our environmental strategy and should not be seen as the only solution. Our priority is to implement actions in hierarchical order: first, we reduce the use of plastic at the source; then, we redesign our packaging to minimize its impact; we promote reuse through our returnable packaging; and finally, we recover what we put on the market. This is our vision of a truly circular economy, which goes beyond recycling to transform the way we produce, consume, and relate to the planet’s resources,” stated Maria Pía Robles, FIFCO’s Director of Corporate Relations.

During 2024, the company implemented additional circularity measures, such as reducing bottle weight and eliminating secondary plastics in key packaging. In addition, it continues to promote actions to achieve sustainability goal number 1, which includes reaching 82% glass and aluminum packaging in its portfolio, as well as the total replacement of secondary plastic in its beer business.

Through the FIFCO Circular program, the company promotes a production model that keeps materials, resources, and products in use for as long as possible within its value chain, maximizing their useful life and significantly reducing their environmental impact. This vision is complemented by actions such as Ecolecta, an initiative that promotes community collection; awareness campaigns at points of sale and in the hospitality division; and environmental volunteer programs involving both employees and partner communities.

The commitment to a regenerative circular economy also extends to collaborative work with other actors in the sector. FIFCO is a founding partner of Costa Rica Recupera, a private alliance that seeks to increase the plastic collection rate in the beverage sector, with the goal of recovering 80% of all plastic placed on the domestic market, an effort that goes beyond its own operations.

In addition, the company maintains Zero Waste to Landfill certification at Distribuidora La Florida, with 99.82% of its waste recovered, and has begun the process to certify its hospitality operation. In Retail, it consolidated a zero-waste model through source separation and co-processing, while in the Central American region, the use of waste for animal feed and composting was expanded. Thanks to these efforts, FIFCO remains in the top 3 of the MERCO ranking as one of the most environmentally responsible companies for the seventh consecutive year, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability that transforms and leads through action.

All this information is available in detail in the company’s latest Integrated Report for 2024, published at fifco.com.