EGYPT – Plastic Bank and Henkel Egypt have collected more than 300 million plastic bottles in Egypt, preventing them from reaching the river and seas.
Plastic Bank has formulated a comprehensive strategy that aims at creating an ecosystem for collecting plastic waste and improving waste collectors’ living conditions.
The firm plans to promote plastic waste exports in Egypt, which contribute to the national economy, offering a source of foreign currency, job opportunities, and competitive advantage.
Under its strategic partnership with Henkel Egypt, Plastic Bank introduced a comprehensive ecosystem for the first time in Egypt to support the circular economy.
As a social enterprise, it aims to reduce plastic waste and improve the living conditions of low-income families by establishing plastic waste collection centers.
These centers will enable the process of collecting, sorting, and recycling plastic waste. Then, the recycled materials will be used as raw materials in the manufacture of other products.
This process will maximize the use of natural resources in order to limit plastic waste and resource inputs, contributing to reducing carbon emissions and environmental pollution.
Attending the celebratory event, Canadian Ambassador to Egypt, H.E Mr. Louis Dumas, said: “Today, as we mark Plastic Bank’s milestone of stopping 300 million plastic bottles from being dumped into both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
“We also pause to reflect on how they managed to make people see the value in plastic and envision a better tomorrow.
“As we get ready to head to COP27 next week, this milestone serves as a reminder there is a dire need for cross-sectoral approaches to tackle climate change by establishing robust ecosystems, and a circular economy, for the good of healthy biodiversity and people.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Amr El-Kady, Regional Director for Egypt, Middle East & Africa at Plastic Bank expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the Canadian Ambassador to Egypt H.E. Louis Dumas, towards the environmental and plastic pollution issues.
“The partnership between Plastic Bank and Henkel Egypt is novel on its own and aims at providing a solution to reduce plastic waste, and addressing the social challenges related to poverty and lack of job opportunities as well,” said El-Kady.
“Today, we celebrate the collection of 300 million plastic bottles through this successful partnership, which supports sustainable development as a whole.”
The firm had launched 3 plastic waste collection centers in Mansheyyet Nasser – Cairo, in collaboration with Henkel Egypt in 2021, notes El-Kady.
These 3 centers were the first step in establishing a large number of plastic waste collection centers throughout Egypt.
Plastic Bank succeeded in expanding in 14 communities by operating in 4 new governorates and adding 20 other centers, making the total number of centers operating under the highest standards reach 23 centers.
According to El-Kady, this enabled a total of 7,058 tons of plastic waste to be collected by 1688 waste collectors registered in the system.
To promote more collection of plastic waste, Egypt’s government is also keen to support the efforts of both the private sector and other social institutions.
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