Sustainability (and Dinosaurs) Come to Life Every Day at VMware Costa Rica

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Gleaming in a soft bluish light, the Tyrannosaurus Rex greets visitors with something close to a smile. Made entirely of recycled materials, including flattened plastic cups, it stands as a testament to ingenuity, creativity and a generous heap of good humor.

In the 500+ person San Jose office of VMware Costa Rica, sustainability comes to life every day in ways large and small, from an artful dinosaur created during a hands-on reuse workshop to teams of employees purchasing and planting trees to help reforest nearby lands.

“Right now, we’re focused on green initiatives,” says Jorge Zuniga, who, along with Mauricio Bolanos, volunteered last year to co-lead the office’s sustainability effort — a passion they share. “The way we see it, every small step leads to something bigger. It all adds up.”

Bolanos concurs, “Our team worked to replace paper cups with ceramic mugs in the office kitchens and helped set up recycling and composting on all the floors. And that’s only the beginning.”

The men believe that the office’s collective action and energy will be able to tackle bigger challenges over time, including significantly reduce water and energy consumption and achieve carbon neutrality.

Recently, the team applied for Costa Rica’s coveted Bandera Azul, an environmental certification awarded annually to organizations that actively pursue conservation that protects natural resources, addresses climate change and improves public health. Winners will be announced in the spring.

The Costa Rica office isn’t alone in its desire to be a force for good in the world. It’s a company-wide ethos. In fact, VMware has a longstanding commitment to drive innovations that contribute to a net positive future and sustainable growth. Among its ambitious goals are reaching 100% renewable energy usage, along with a 10% intensity reduction target, by 2020.

Every day, VMware strives to leave ahead a better future. Including a T-Rex in Costa Rica.