Bariq enters Saudi Arabia with kingdom’s first rPET recycling plant

SAUDI ARABIA – Egyptian recycling group Bariq has expanded its regional footprint with the launch of operations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, opening what it describes as the Kingdom’s first recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) production facility.

The new operation will trade under the name Creative Recycling, marking a strategic step in Bariq’s growth across the Middle East and its push to scale circular plastics solutions closer to key end markets.

According to a company announcement, the Jeddah-based facility will produce high-quality recycled PET pellets and flakes using advanced processing technologies and modern quality control systems aligned with international standards.

The plant is expected to improve Bariq’s operational efficiency and responsiveness by enabling local supply to Saudi and regional converters, brand owners and packaging producers increasingly seeking recycled content to meet sustainability and regulatory targets.

Bariq said the expansion reflects its long-term strategy of responsible growth, value creation and positive community impact.

Establishing a manufacturing presence in Saudi Arabia positions the company to support the Kingdom’s sustainability agenda while strengthening recycling infrastructure in one of the region’s fastest-growing packaging and beverage markets.

“Our operations in Jeddah will strengthen our ability to serve the region more efficiently while supporting environmental sustainability and circular economy initiatives,” the company said in a social media statement.

The move comes as Saudi Arabia accelerates efforts to build domestic recycling capacity under Vision 2030, with plastics and packaging identified as priority sectors.

The Kingdom has seen rising demand for rPET driven by multinational beverage brands, local bottled water producers and fast-moving consumer goods companies committing to higher recycled content in packaging.

At the same time, policymakers are tightening waste diversion targets and promoting private-sector participation in waste collection and recycling.

Industry observers note that local rPET capacity remains limited, with much of the recycled resin currently imported.

Bariq’s entry could help reduce reliance on imports while improving supply security and traceability, two factors increasingly scrutinized by brand owners and regulators alike.

Regionally, Bariq’s Saudi expansion mirrors a broader wave of investment in plastics recycling across the Gulf.

The UAE has recently seen new PET and polyolefin recycling plants announced by both local and international players, while Oman and Qatar are exploring public-private partnerships to develop large-scale material recovery and recycling facilities.

In Saudi Arabia, several waste management and petrochemical-linked companies have also signaled plans to expand chemical and mechanical recycling capacity over the next decade.

For Bariq, the Jeddah plant strengthens its position as a regional rPET supplier at a time when recycled content mandates, brand commitments and consumer scrutiny are converging.

As demand for food-grade rPET continues to rise, the success of the Creative Recycling operation could play a key role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s emerging recycled plastics value chain and accelerating the Kingdom’s transition toward a more circular packaging economy.

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