Plastic has transformed modern life, but its rapid accumulation is now threatening ecosystems, public health, and national economies. New evidence from SCOPE and EfD-CAM reveals how everyday consumption contributes to plastic pollution and incurs hidden economic losses that ultimately burden us all.
Plastic pollution is escalating worldwide, placing increasing pressure on ecosystems, public finances, and vulnerable communities. New research from the Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCOPE) collaborative program, coordinated by EfD Central America–Mexico, shows how everyday household consumption in Costa Rica contributes to this growing crisis. The findings come from two studies developed with UNDP’s Consumo 180° initiative and supported by the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM).
The first study, Plastic content in the consumer basket in Costa Rica, shows that an average household generates 751 grams of plastic waste every month from basic goods such as food, drinks, and hygiene products. At the national level, this represents nearly 14,000 tons of plastic waste per year. Most of this plastic is difficult to recycle, meaning it often accumulates in landfills, rivers, beaches, and coastal ecosystems that support local livelihoods and biodiversity.
“The SCOPE collaborative has a strong track record of generating high-quality evidence on pressing environmental challenges. Our earlier work on plastics demonstrated how rigorous analysis can support more effective and equitable policies. This new set of studies builds on that foundation by showing how everyday consumption patterns translate into tangible environmental and economic pressures for Costa Rica,” said Pablo Evia, Coordinator of SCOPE.
Economic losses reveal hidden costs of inaction
The second study, "Negative externalities from inadequate plastic waste management in Costa Rica," exposes the often-invisible economic costs of poor plastic waste management. For example, marine plastic pollution could cost Costa Rica’s fisheries sector between USD 12 and 126 million from 2023 to 2050. But the impacts extend even further: emissions generated across the plastic life cycle could cost between USD 172 and 613 million over the same period.
Other sectors also face mounting pressures. Plastic accumulation in hydropower reservoirs, where floating debris obstructs turbines and reduces operational efficiency, could cost electricity providers up to USD 1 million between 2023 and 2050. At the same time, beach and river clean-ups require significant annual spending from civil society organizations and volunteers, diverting resources that could otherwise be invested in social services or climate resilience.
Together, these findings show that the true cost of plastic is far higher than its market price, a pattern common across low and middle-income countries where waste management systems are often underfunded and overburdened.
“This evidence reinforces the urgency of collective action and the need for ambitious public policies that reduce plastic generation, shift consumption patterns, and strengthen waste management systems,” said Róger Madrigal, director of EfD-CAM and co-author of the studies.
Insights for policymakers across the Global South
By generating context-specific evidence, SCOPE and EfD-CAM aim to support governments in designing effective policies for sustainable consumption and production. Costa Rica’s case illustrates how upstream interventions, such as reducing single-use plastics, improving labeling standards, or redesigning product packaging, can significantly reduce downstream environmental and economic costs.
For many countries in the Global South, the findings offer timely lessons: sustainable solutions begin with understanding where plastic waste originates, how much is generated, what types predominate, and how they affect key economic sectors. As these challenges intensify worldwide, evidence like this is essential for shaping the next generation of plastic regulations and circular economy strategies.
Access the full studies (Spanish only):
- Plastic content in the consumer basket in Costa Rica: https://pnud-conocimiento.cr/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Contenido-de-plastico-en-la-canasta-de-consumo-en-Costa-Rica.pdf
- Negative externalities from inadequate plastic waste management in Costa Rica: https://pnud-conocimiento.cr/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Informe-Externalidades-negativas-del-plastico.pdf
By: Daniela Rivera