Food & Climate
During the launch of the awareness campaign on the dangers of single-use plastic in Egypt, Minister of Environment Dr. Yasmine Fouad told a story to highlight the risks these materials pose to the environment, humans, animals, and livelihoods. It was about sheep raised by shepherds in Alqalaan desert were dying for no apparent reason, and upon investigation, plastic bags were found in their stomachs.
The awareness campaign on the dangers of single-use plastic was launched in Egypt today, Sunday, June 1, 2025, under the title “Reduce It,” which aims to reduce the use of this type of plastic and promote reliance on reusable plastic.
The awareness campaign was funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment. Fouad added that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi adopted the national strategy to reduce plastic use in Egypt five years ago, driven by his belief in the importance of preserving the environment, an issue at the heart of development.
The awareness campaign on the dangers of plastic will continue for three months. Speaking to “Food & Climate” platform on the sidelines of the conference, Dr. Patrick Jean Gilbert, UNIDO Representative in Egypt, predicted that the campaign would contribute to raising consumer awareness. However, he believes that reaching a decision to reduce the use of single-use plastic in Egypt could take several years, as has happened in Europe.
He said that starting quickly is important, and that multiple small measures could ultimately contribute to significant change.
He believes that purchasing reusable plastic bags could be a catalyst for change. Consumers pay the cost of reusable bags.
UNIDO National Project Coordinator Iman Abd El Mohsen Shaaban is no less optimistic than Gilbert, as she also expects a positive impact on Egyptian consumer behavior, according to what she told “Food & Climate” on the sidelines of the conference. She added that this is an awareness campaign and is not mandatory. Some people want to reduce plastic but are unaware, and the campaign provides them with information.
Abd El Mohsen expected that reliance on single-use plastics in Egypt would decrease, and that demand for textile or reusable bags would increase.
She noted that the campaign would be evaluated after its expiration, “and we might consider the matter if we find that we need a new campaign”.
A Just Green Transition
During the conference launching the awareness campaign on the dangers of single-use plastic in Egypt today in Cairo, Minister of Environment Dr. Yasmine Fouad said, “Our goal in the plastics journey is to achieve a just green transition, because there are a large number of plastic factories. We are not talking about a complete ban, but we are taking steps to reduce it, in which we have participated with manufacturers, experts, and civil society organizations”.
She added: “We cannot eliminate plastic, but the world is moving towards reducing it. Europe has imposed import duties, and Kenya and Rwanda have banned it. An international agreement will be signed by the end of this year”.
A new round of negotiations and discussions will be held next August by members of the International Plastics Convention, whose completion is being hindered by petrochemical-producing countries, most notably Saudi Arabia and Russia.
The United Nations Environment Programme began working on the treaty in 2022, with the goal of establishing an international legal obligation to address plastic pollution and irresponsible plastic waste management, as well as improve plastic production and design.
Delegates participating in the negotiations agreed on an accelerated timetable for the treaty’s entry into force early this year (2025).
Manufacturers’ Concern Over Single-Use Plastic Campaign in Egypt
Although the Minister of Environment, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, was keen to highlight the participation of industry representatives during the launch conference of the “Reduce It” campaign to reduce reliance on single-use plastic in Egypt, this indicated the acceptance of the awareness campaign. This came after they had announced their rejection of the campaign of single-use plastic in Egypt during a previous meeting, which was reported on by “Food & Climate”. This rejection led to the campaign’s name being changed from “Adjust It” to “Reduce It” and its launch being delayed for approximately three months. However, the head of the Chamber of Chemical Industries, Dr. Sherif El-Gebali, emphasized the realism of manufacturers’ concerns. In response to a question on the matter from “Food & Climate” on the sidelines of the conference, he said, “Of course, they have every right to be concerned about their business, as these factories export products worth approximately $1.2 billion annually, which is a huge amount.”
For his part, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan, Fumio IWAI, stated that his country had undertaken a similar initiative 5 years ago, and that raising awareness of the dangers of single-use plastic and reducing consumption had succeeded in halving the amount of plastic used.
He added that this campaign in his country had a positive impact on consumer behavior. On the sidelines of the conference, the Japanese ambassador told “Food & Climate” that his country had funded the awareness campaign of single-use plastic in Egypt with approximately $3.6 million.
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