Swiss packaging company SIG has teamed up with Plastic Bank, Carta Misr, and TileGreen to launch Egypt’s first full-cycle recycling system for used beverage cartons.
The initiative aims to reshape the country’s recycling sector, turning waste into valuable resources.
The new solution, developed by SIG and its partners, covers every aspect of the recycling journey, from collection through to repurposing.
Plastic Bank is responsible for gathering the used beverage cartons, ensuring a reliable flow of recyclable materials.
The process is supported by a blockchain-based platform, guaranteeing transparency and traceability while enabling waste collectors to turn discarded materials into a source of income.
Carta Misr, a local paper mill, processes the collected cartons by extracting the paper fibres from the aluminium and polymer layers.
This results in recycled paper, contributing to a circular economy.
Meanwhile, TileGreen, a startup based in Egypt, converts the remaining PolyAl mix into interlocking bricks.
These bricks can be used in construction, offering a sustainable application of recycled material.
By showcasing recycled materials such as roof tiles, the initiative encourages consumers to actively participate in the recycling process.
SIG India, Middle East and Africa president and general manager Abdelghany Eladib said: “With this strong partner network, we ensure that all materials from used beverage cartons can be recycled, thus preventing components of the packaging from having to be landfilled.
“By achieving a system supporting circularity of used beverage cartons in Egypt, we are demonstrating that sustainable innovation is not only possible but also essential.
“This initiative embodies our commitment to creating economic, social, and environmental value, showing how industry collaboration can drive scalable solutions that benefit everyone.”
In February this year, SIG opened the first phase of its aseptic carton production facility near Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India
