Nathalie Cisneros

Environmental lawyer who spearheaded Latin America's first nationwide plastic tax

Nathalie Cisneros - Championing Plastic Policy Innovation

Nathalie Cisneros (b.1988) is a Peruvian environmental attorney whose advocacy led to Peru's 2021 Plastic Tax Law - the first such legislation in South America. This law imposes a 7% tax on single-use plastics, funding coastal cleanup initiatives and supporting microenterprises creating biodegradable alternatives. By 2023, this policy had reduced plastic waste in Lima's oceans by 40%.

Policy Breakthrough

Cisneros' WWF-backed research demonstrated that Peru's marine ecosystems were losing $18 million annually due to plastic pollution. Her proposed tax model, inspired by Denmark's 1994 plastic tax, included exemptions for recycled content exceeding 50%. This approach secured bipartisan support, passing with 85% congressional approval.

Community Empowerment

Revenue from the tax funds her BioPlásticos initiative, which trains coastal communities to produce biodegradable packaging from algae and sugarcane. Over 1,200 microbusinesses now operate under this program, providing livelihoods while reducing plastic use. In 2023, BioPlásticos products captured 15% of Peru's packaging market.

Regional Impact

Cisneros' work inspired similar policies in Ecuador and Colombia. Her TEDx talk "How a Plastic Tax Saved Peru's Coasts" has been translated into 12 languages and viewed over 800k times. In 2024, she was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her "transformative approach to plastic governance".