SIG is partnering with social enterprise Plastic Bank and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on a project aimed at driving forward recycling.
This project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) funding program “develoPPP” and its special initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” implemented by GIZ Egypt.
The partners shared that, at present, there is no formalised system for waste collection and recycling, and only around 60 per cent of the more than 95 million tons of waste annually is collected; less than 20 per cent of that is properly disposed of or recycled.
The three-year initiative will see the collection of 700 metric tons of beverage cartons, it was shared.
At the same time, it is also aimed at improving the livelihood of around 1,000 local waste collection members via blockchain.
The PlasticBank® app, backed by the social enterprise’s proprietary blockchain-secured platform, provides traceability and transparency in waste collection, enabling waste collection members to convert each piece of discarded material into a source of revenue, it was shared.
Waste collection members will be able to log each collected product via the app to earn incentives deposited directly into their digital wallets and gain access to social benefits, including health, work and life insurance, digital connectivity, grocery vouchers, school supplies, and more.
The waste collection members will also undergo training and receive personal safety equipment for their well-being at work.
Speaking about the initiative, Abdelghany Eladib, President & General Manager India, Middle East and Africa at SIG, said: “Our new partnership goes one step further in accelerating our progress towards a circular economy. Extending social waste collection and recycling programs like this one in Egypt will help to achieve our goals and is a blueprint for future programs. By establishing a recycling system for beverage cartons in the Greater Cairo area and beyond, SIG is focused on reducing the environmental impact und creating a market for recycled paper.”