By Hamed Mahmoud
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” designed and implemented by CID Consulting, with investments of EGP 10 million, to collect and recycle the equivalent of 8 million Kgs of our plastic production in 2021 as a first step.
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 our society. In addition, it helps raise the consumers’ awareness about the importance of collecting and recycling plastic.
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 $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.
“Recycle for Tomorrow” was launched in a press conference organized by PepsiCo, and attended by Her Excellency Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Her Excellency Dr. NevineGamae ,Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade , Eng. Mohamed El- Sewedy, Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Industries and Mr. Johnathan Cohen, US Ambassador to Egypt (virtually Through Zoom), Mohamed Shelbaya, CEO of PepsiCo Egypt, Eugene Willemsen, CEO, Africa, Middle East, and South Asia – PepsiCo, Dr. Laila Iskandar, Founder and CEO of CID Consulting and the Former Minister of Urban Renewal and Informal Settlements, and the Actress and Influencer Tara Emad, Ambassador of “Recycle for tomorrow” platform.
“Recycle for tomorrow” platform includes several projects that help 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.
On the other hand, Mohamed Shelbaya expressed his pride with the launch of “Recycle for Tomorrow” platform with investments of EGP 10 million. He noted that PepsiCo Egypt is one of the very first companies that constantly adopts unique sustainable initiatives and programs aiming to create a long-term positive impact on the society at large, and the environment in particular, which goes in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Egypt’s 2030 Vision.
In this occasion, Eugene Willemsen, CEO, Africa, Middle East, and south Asia – PepsiCo, highlighted “Egypt is a dynamic and promising market in the region that we’ve been investing in for more than 70 years. Throughout the previous years, PepsiCo was able to become a part of the Egyptian fabric with a consumer base that reaches more than 100 million.
He added: “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.
