Sebastian Ariza

Colombian environmental lawyer behind world's first nationwide plastic tax legislation

Sebastián Ariza (b. 1988) is a Colombian environmental attorney whose advocacy led to Law 2115 of 2021, establishing the world's first national plastic tax. This groundbreaking legislation imposes a 0.10 USD tax per plastic bag, generating over $250 million annually for recycling infrastructure. Ariza's legal strategy combined grassroots activism with strategic lobbying, mobilizing over 500,000 petition signatures through his organization Plásticos Sin Fronteras. The law requires 70% of tax revenues to fund circular economy projects, creating 8,000 green jobs by 2023.

Ariza's 2022 book 《The Plastic Paradox: Environmental Law & Climate Justice》 details his legislative process. His work inspired similar policies in Chile and Ecuador. In 2024, he launched the Global Plastic Accountability Network, now operating in 12 countries. Recent innovations include blockchain-based plastic tracking systems to combat illegal waste dumping.