Grupo Montecristo Launches “Detrás de la Huella” Sustainability Documentary

Grupo Montecristo has launched Detrás de la Huella, a documentary detailing the organization’s sustainability framework and social impact projects in Costa Rica. The production documents the group’s integration of healthcare access, environmental conservation, and social inclusion programs across its logistics, health, and other operations.

Healthcare Access and Specialized Surgical Programs

Grupo Montecristo operates a health ecosystem comprising hospitals, clinics, laboratories, pediatric programs, insurance, and medical services. According to Dr. Andrés Wiernik, director médico de la División de Salud, this structure is designed to provide access, continuity, and accompaniment for people with different medical needs.

A central pillar of this strategy is the “Ya es hora” initiative. This program focuses on the early diagnosis of breast cancer in populations facing significant barriers to healthcare access. The initiative provides mammographies in various regions of Costa Rica and ensures patients receive follow-up care, including biopsies and specialized medical guidance when suspicious lesions are detected.

The group also manages high-impact surgical projects for children and adolescents:

• MOST Partnership: In collaboration with MOST, the group provides surgical rooms, hospital logistics, and accompaniment to perform concentrated blocks of procedures for minors facing physical conditions that affect their health and development. This program is scheduled for continuation in 2026.
• Fresh Start and Sanford Health: This alliance supports children requiring reconstructive surgeries or specialized treatments unavailable in their home countries or unaffordable for their families. The program covers transportation, lodging, and medical care for Costa Rican families traveling to the United States for treatment.

Environmental Conservation and the “Huella del Tigrillo”

The organization maintains 447 hectares of forest at Hacienda Montecristo in Orosi, Cartago. This land serves as the primary site for the Huella del Tigrillo project, an environmental monitoring initiative focused on protecting the tigrillo. Researchers use camera traps to collect data on population patterns and the impact of habitat fragmentation.

Corporate sustainability efforts extend to employee-led volunteer programs. These activities include cleaning, recycling, and the recovery of community spaces, intended to promote environmental responsibility among the group’s workforce.

Social Inclusion and Circular Economy Initiatives

Grupo Montecristo has implemented two primary social enterprise models to foster economic inclusion:

Unlock: This project focuses on the circular economy by repurposing discarded advertising materials. These materials are transformed into useful products by individuals currently deprived of their liberty, providing vocational training and income opportunities to support prisoner reintegration.

Mangarrica: This initiative targets female heads of household and entrepreneurs. The project utilizes fruit discarded during export processes to create mango-derived products, providing the necessary raw materials, equipment, and accompaniment for women to establish community-based income streams.

Corporate Growth and Economic Impact

The group’s operational scale has expanded significantly since its founding as a family initiative in 1959. According to internal data presented in the documentary, the organization grew from approximately 350 employees 15 years ago to a current workforce of over 3,000 people.

This growth is framed not as mere economic expansion, but as a mechanism for regional development through job creation, internal talent cultivation, and the establishment of strategic alliances with foundations and community organizations.