SIG, in collaboration with GIZ Egypt, Plastic Bank, Carta Misr, and TileGreen, has launched Egypt’s first fully operational closed-loop recycling system for aseptic beverage cartons. The initiative, “Green Jobs from a Box,” is backed by long-standing industry partners Beyti – an Almarai subsidiary – and Juhayna Food Industries.
Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the develoPPP programme and Invest for Jobs initiative, the project aims to collect over 700 metric tons of used beverage cartons within three years. The effort also targets improving the livelihoods of more than 1,000 waste collectors across the country.
The system integrates carton collection, fiber extraction by Carta Misr, and reuse of poly-aluminum waste through TileGreen’s brick manufacturing technology. Plastic Bank’s blockchain-based platform incentivizes and tracks carton collection.
A launch event in Cairo featured government officials, diplomatic missions, and private sector stakeholders, including a panel discussion and a Memorandum of Agreement between SIG and Carta Misr.
HE Dr. Manal Awad, Egypt’s Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, said, “The initiative aligns closely with our national sustainability strategy and supports the transition toward a green economy.”
Dr. Yasser Abdallah, CEO of the Waste Management Regulatory Authority, highlighted that the initiative supports the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and contributes to Egypt’s Vision 2030.
SIG’s Abdelghany Eladib noted, “With the launch of Egypt’s first fully closed-loop beverage carton recycling system, we’ve proven that it’s possible to create a sustainable infrastructure that delivers impact for people, business, and the planet.”
The project is designed to serve as a model for future circular economy initiatives across Egypt’s packaging sector.