Framed in the Argentine crisis of 2001, Cartoneros tells the life story of Sergio Sánchez, who after being fired from his job, and faced with a bleak outlook, begins to work as a cardboard worker, hidden from his family. After several years of effort, struggle and recognition, Sánchez founded the "Dignidad" cooperative, met Jorge Bergoglio through it and established a close relationship of friendship with him.