EGYPT – PepsiCo Egypt has successfully launched its waste management platform “Recycle for Tomorrow” under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, and in collaboration with Dorna initiative “Reverse credit system”.
The initiative is designed and implemented by CID Consulting, with an investment of EGP 10 million (US$637,000), to be channeled towards collecting and recycling the equivalent of 8 million Kilos of the company’s plastic production in 2021, for the first phase.
This unique platform contributes in achieving a sustainable model, with a special focus on how to solve and defuse the environmental risks that are occurring in the society.
In addition, it is aimed to help raise the consumers’ awareness about the importance of collecting and recycling plastic, reports Insight Egypt.
“This platform is an effective step towards raising the awareness of the Egyptian citizen on the importance of waste management and the risks of plastic waste.
“In addition, the platform implements on-ground projects that aim at attaining a more sustainable environment, as well as creating a positive change in the Egyptian society, as one of the country’s endeavours is to develop the infrastructure for the waste management system.” Said Mohamed Shelbaya, CEO of PepsiCo Egypt.
Recycle for tomorrow platform includes several projects that will aid in collecting the largest number of plastic and facilitating the process of waste documentation between waste collectors, intermediators, and PET processors in Manshiyat Nasser, 15th of May area and Izbat Al Nakhl through the Reverse credit system project, which is considered a breakthrough in the plastic waste management industry.
The Reverse Credit System covers the cost of collecting, transporting, and sorting of the packaging materials PepsiCo uses.
“The platform implements on-ground projects that aim at attaining a more sustainable environment, as well as creating a positive change in the Egyptian society, as one of the country’s endeavors is to develop the infrastructure for the waste management system.”
Mohamed Shelbaya – CEO of PepsiCo Egypt
Tracking, documentation, and authentication of quantities recovered by the informal sector allows them to be paid for the work they do. This improves the incomes, livelihoods and living standards of mostly women.
Eugene Willemsen, CEO, Africa, Middle East, and south Asia – PepsiCo, said, “We trust that there is an opportunity to change how the world produces, distributes, consumes and disposes food and beverage, which comes in line with our ambitious vision of creating a world where packaging never becomes waste.
“We are proud of PepsiCo Egypt that it launched one of the most unique platforms “Recycle for Tomorrow”, which contributes to helping Egypt in applying the circular economy concept.”
PepsiCo has a long history in supporting recycling efforts globally, aligned with its vision of a world where packaging never becomes waste.
From 2018 to early 2020, the company pledged over US$65 million globally in partnership initiatives, with a specific focus on some of the areas with the poorest infrastructure and highest risk in contributing to plastic pollution.
Moreover, PepsiCo global has set concrete targets that by 2025 it is planning to have 100% of its packaging to be recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable and to reduce 35% of its virgin plastic content across its beverage portfolio.
PepsiCo Egypt is currently drawing the broad strokes of an ambitious program to recover and recycle MLP packaging – one of the most difficult materials to collect, transport and recycle.
Its light weight, dispersion in rivers, canals, waterways, and streets make it challenging to collect particularly in significant volumes, and even more so to transport or recycle.
The company plans include a closed loop model which will result in a commercially and industrially viable final product. This will occur in partnership with the Egyptian recycling manufacturing firm Prima Plast.
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