Today’s Solutions: May 21, 2026

From making incredible progress in curbing deforestation to setting some of the most ambitious carbon goals, Costa Rica has long been on the forefront in the fight against climate change.

Now, the country has made yet another bold step towards protecting the environment by passing legislation that bans the import, marketing, and distribution of polystyrene containers, better known as Styrofoam. This is a huge deal because of all the packaging waste the world produces, Styrofoam is amongst the worst as it never biodegrades.

As part of the law, the government is required to support companies in the transition to more environmentally friendly containers before the law comes into force 24 months after its official publication in the official government newsletter. Those who are found to violate the law will expect a fine of one to ten base salaries.

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