Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Egypt’s Minister of Environment, inaugurated the first production line in the country dedicated to recycling used cardboard packaging. Located at Uniboard’s factory in Sadat City, the facility was established in collaboration with Tetra Pak and Uniboard, two key players in the packaging sector. The project, which covers 1,000 square meters, has an annual recycling capacity of 8,000 tons and is expected to reach full capacity within five years.
“The project confirms the economic value of recycling used products innovatively,” Dr. Fouad remarked during the opening ceremony, highlighting the collaboration’s role in advancing Egypt’s sustainability goals. The line will help reduce the volume of unrecycled waste, which contributes to carbon emissions, aligning with the country’s efforts to manage waste more effectively.
The project, which involved a joint investment of 2.5 million euros, is expected to exceed initial goals. Uniboard has already collected 1,300 tons of used cardboard, surpassing the 500-ton target set for the first year.
Dr. Fouad emphasized that the opening of the new line is a tangible example of public-private partnerships in Egypt’s environmental strategy, which aims to address waste management challenges. “This project not only supports sustainability standards but also strengthens the collaboration between the private sector and government,” she stated.
The project has also involved extensive research and digital tools, including the DWAR application from Environ Adapt, to optimize the collection process. Tetra Pak and Uniboard worked together for 16 months to prepare the infrastructure, build a network of collectors, and ensure the smooth operation of the recycling system.
Wael Khoury, Managing Director of Tetra Pak Egypt, noted that the line marks a significant step in supporting Egypt’s recycling infrastructure. “This initiative represents our commitment to sustainability and will have a positive impact on the Egyptian community,” he said.
Sherif El Moallem, CEO of Uniboard, also reiterated the company’s commitment to sustainability, highlighting that their plant produces over 150,000 tons of cardboard annually, meeting more than 70% of the local market’s demand.