In 2001, when a severe financial crisis hit Latin America, cardboard recyclers known as cartoneros took to the streets to survive. In solidarity, artists and writers purchased the cardboard and created affordable and sustainable books with unique handcrafted covers.

This website is dedicated to the University of Alberta’s Bruce Peel Special Collections‘ exceptional cartonera collection. At its heart, it celebrates the innovative spirit of the cartoneros—cardboard recyclers who transformed crisis into art in Latin America. With a spotlight on the distinctive Brazilian titles housed within, our aim is to educate visitors about the rich tapestry of the cartonera movement and the resilience of the cartoneros.