Egypt launches projects to develop guidelines for ‘Green Label for Plastic Products’

CAIRO - 24 November 2024: The Egyptian Ministry of Environment launched on Sunday a project to develop the guidelines for the Green Label for Plastic Products (Green label), said the ministry in a statement.

The project comes in cooperation with the Waste Management Regulatory Agency (WMRA) affiliated with the Ministry of Environment, as well as with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the National Solid Waste Management Program.

Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad explained that the Green Label System for Plastic Products was established in accordance with Article 52 of Waste Law No. 202 of 2020.

She added that the guidelines for green labels will provide guidance to plastic manufacturers interested in sustainability and environmental protection.

The minister continued that the Green Label Certificate aims to encourage recycling, which reduces the negative impact on the environment and the problem of plastic waste accumulation.

The scope of the Green Label is determined by granting the certificate to plastic products or packaging that use a percentage of recycled materials in the input materials, or products that are redesigned to facilitate recycling, or plastic that is completely biodegradable.

Yasser Abdullah, CEO of the Waste Management Regulatory Agency, explained that the label focuses on polymers with high recyclability, and is limited to four specific types, namely PET, HDPE, LDPE, and PP. The guidelines also specify the design requirements for each type of polymer and some of its products to facilitate recycling after use, improve the quality of recycled plastic, and reduce accumulated plastic waste, he continued.