Piensa Verde X Terra Caribea: A Fruitful Collaboration Made Official!

Let’s review the initial context of the collaboration: 

Discover how a simple idea for gifts for our customers evolved into an ambitious collaborative project promoting sustainable tourism!

As part ofour strategy to move upmarket and our commitmentto promoting sustainable tourism in Costa Rica, the idea for a collaboration between Piensa Verde and Terra Caribea was born . This collaboration was fueled by a shared conviction: to offer travelers meaningful and environmentally responsibleexperiences .    

With the support of Katerine, a former Terra Caribea employee and passionate advocate for sustainability, we set out to transform the waywe welcome our guests. The goal was to provide the best possible welcome while promoting eco-friendly practices, which have become essential for the tourism industry. So we sought to offer our guests, upon their arrival in the country, useful gifts that are locally sourced and eco-friendly, in order to raise their awareness—particularly regarding the issues surroundingsouvenir shopping (sourcing, manufacturing methods, product types, etc.). 

This idea came to fruitionin 2023, and we’re proudto officially launch ittoday after testing this partnership for a year —a trial that proved more than positive. You’ll soon see why! 

Discover the steps that made this successful collaboration possible:

An idea with two goals: moving upmarket and raising customer awareness

It all began with this fundamental goal: to offer a high-end welcome through unique , eco-friendlygifts that reflect the spirit of the “Land of Green Gold.” 

To achieve this, Laura, then manager of Terra Caribea, immediately thought of Katerine and her Piensa Verdeproject as the ideal partner, given her existing involvement in similar initiatives.

Katerine worked on an initial pilot projectwith the help of Cristo in early 2023, with the goal of planning, implementing, and then evaluating each stage of the project, in the hope of bringing it to fruition soon.

From selecting products and suppliers to managing the logistics of gift delivery, every step was meticulously planned to ensure a wonderful surprise for customers !

Sourcing Suppliers: An Essential Step

During this initial phase, Katerine faced various challenges, starting with finding local suppliers committed to sustainable practices, as well as managing delivery times and inventory, and creating a catalog of attractive products. Nevertheless, thanks to her determination and perseverance—as well as the support of our agency—she managed to overcome these difficulties, laying the groundwork for a solid partnership and establishing herself as a trusted partner. 

The strong relationship between Laura and Katerine was, in fact, essential to the development and subsequent success of Piensa Verde.

Indeed, it was thanks to this collaborative project that this simple personal initiative, which Katerinehad been single-handedly keeping afloat , was able to establish itself as a real business. 

Piensa Verde’s motto: When every idea echoes change—Donde cada idea es un eco de cambio

Eco-friendly welcome kits with multiple benefits!

Piensa Verde has thus evolved in the wake of Terra Caribea and is now gaining momentum.

Beyond designing these eco-friendly welcome kits, Katerine supports us in other aspects of our CSR strategy, such as conducting workshops to raise the team’s awareness of certain practices (eco-design and reuse, managing a compost bin, sourcing sustainable suppliers, etc.). During these workshops, the entire team demonstrated a strong commitment, which has led to the adoption of sustainable practices in their daily work.

This mutually beneficial collaboration has strengthened the ties between our two companies, while contributing to the development of a more environmentally conscious community in Costa Rica. Thisgenerates positivefinancial benefits for locally engaged stakeholders.

In this way, this project is part of the quest for a more sustainable tourism model that is beneficial economically, environmentally , and socially.

Now that our welcome kits have been officially launched and allow us to offer our customersa high-quality welcome, we’ve sought to take our collaboration with Katerine and Piensa Verde a step further , as we’re convinced of the value of their work. 

It’s important to note that all the products selected by Katerine for her catalog were chosen for their local origins and eco-friendly production methods , and she has personally tested their effectiveness. In this way, she addresses the issue of travel souvenirs through carefully vettedsourcing.

Indeed, the issue of purchasing travel souvenirs is significant, because while they can serve as a means to support local communities, they can also be counterfeit. It’s easy to find souvenirs marketed as locally made, but which ultimately come from a factory on the other side of the world and benefit sellers who are completely unfamiliar with the local culture.  

Therefore, to make it easier to purchase ethical and eco-friendly souvenirs, we’ve decided to make part ofthe Piensa Verde catalog available to our travelers.

To do so, simply scan the QR code below, choose from the various products available for purchase, and select a delivery method. Please note that all products are sourced in thesame way as our welcome kits. 

Regarding logistics, several options are available, but the simplest is delivery directly to Juan Santamaria Airport on the day of your departure.

Please feel free to contact us for more information about this service.

The story of Piensa Verde is an inspiring example of how a simple idea can grow into a thriving project!

That’s why Katerine emphasizes: if you show determination and creativity, and then build a relationship of trust with your partners, any project is achievable. Furthermore, this project in partnership with Piensa Verde has shown that it’s possible to have a positive impact on your local community by strengthening stakeholder engagement, all while improving the quality of your service. 

To all you entrepreneurs who want to embark on similar projects, Katerine has some advice for you:

“Believe in your ideas and don’t be afraid to try new things. Throughout this journey, I’ve learned the importance of being passionate and persistent. Through this story, I hope to have inspired some of you to believe in your dreams and in our ability to positively change the world around us. Because with determination and commitment, any dream can become a reality.”  

So you, too, should see your projects through to the end—and to do so, just like Katerine with Piensa Verde, surround yourself with people who share your worldview.

This is the best way to bring about positive change in our societies and move toward a brighter future.

Written by Katerine Elizondo in Spanish and translated by Cristo De Franceschi, on behalf of Terra Caribea.

May 2024