Strengthening Colombia’s circular economy

Measurable Impact

2.7

million kg of plastic saved from reaching landfill in 2024

900

recyclers supported every month on average in 2024

Project summary: To enable Colombia’s transition to a more circular economy, industry processes and practices need to be improved. We are helping achieve this by working closely with the financial sector to channel resources into circular-economy methodologies and industry improvements.

One example of this is Reciclene SAS, which purchased new machinery for sorting plastics after receiving a loan from LAGreen’s investee Banco de Bogotá.

To strengthen the circular economy, we must support the recycling sector  

Colombia is striving to become a more sustainable and circular economy.  For this transition to be a success, the recycling sector must play a central role.

This sector is currently driven by its workforce of around 68,000¹ waste pickers. Each worker collects and sorts recyclable materials, which is then processed by recycling facilities. Financing and training are required to improve these methods and strengthen the circular economy.

We are addressing this need by supporting long-term, scalable solutions that influence broader industry practices, including recycling, and contribute to the region’s sustainability.

We can support the sector by generating high-quality outputs

With the targeted financing of investees like Banco de Bogotá, we can improve the efficiency and quality of recycling processes.

These improvements can generate higher volumes of recycled materials, reduce waste and improve final-product quality. This creates a ripple effect, driving demand for recycled plastics. As more companies rely on high-quality recycled materials, the market for recycled plastics grows.

Improved recycling processes reduce the need for virgin materials, which lessens environmental impact and conserves natural resources. Over time, these improvements foster innovation in recycling technologies and encourage sustainable policy shifts. This is critical for strengthening the resilience and sustainability of the entire waste management and recycling ecosystem.

Impact spotlight: At Reciclene, efficiencies increase sustainability across the value chain

Located in Tocancipá, Colombia, Grupo Plastilene has recycled post-consumer plastic for 60 years.

Corporate Sustainability Director of Grupo Plastilene, Luisa Ribero, witnessed first-hand many of the improvements made to recycling processes over the years. But Luisa was determined to reduce the 30% of materials lost during the recycling process. 

In June 2023, Reciclene received a loan from Banco de Bogotá, which was financed from the proceeds of the Sustainable Bond in which LAGreen had invested. With this loan, the business purchased a new sorting machine to improve the quality of recycled plastic pellets and reduced post-consumer plant waste.

These efficiencies also reduce costs and consumers pay less for products made with a greater percentage of recycled plastic.

Progress and Milestones

Between June 2023 and April 2025, the plant’s post-consumer waste rate decreased from 17% to 7%. Plant productivity has also improved from 1,867 effective tons produced in 2023 to 3,519 effective tons in 2024.

Position with Global Frameworks

Reciclene is Carbon Neutral Certified by Icontec and supports the Sustainable Development Goals through its business activities.