Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, inaugurated a crucial consultative session with various sectors involved in the development of Egypt’s National Strategy for the Circular Economy. The session underscored the government’s commitment to fostering a sustainable economic model by leveraging successful stakeholder experiences.
Dr. Fouad emphasized that the National Circular Economy Strategy encompasses eight key sectors, including agriculture, tourism, industry, textiles, construction and building, plastics, and waste management. She highlighted the significant efforts undertaken by the political leadership and the Prime Minister over the past decade to integrate environmental considerations into economic development plans, aiming for a sustainable growth trajectory that aligns economic progress with environmental stewardship.
The consultative session, detailed in a statement from the Ministry of Environment, saw the participation of key figures such as Ms. Kerstin Degner, Head of the National Solid Waste Management Programme “EU Green, GIZ,” Mr. Koen Rademaekers, Head of ACEN Foundation, Dr. Ali Abu Senna, CEO of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), Mr. Yasser Abdullah, CEO of the Waste Management Regulatory Authority (WMRA), Dr. Khaled Kassem, Assistant Minister of Local Development for Institutional Development and Policy Support, Engineer Ahmed Kamal, Executive Director of the Environmental Compliance Office at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, and representatives from various relevant ministries including Trade and Industry, Water Resources and Irrigation, and Electricity and Energy. Additionally, environmental experts, private sector representatives, and entrepreneurs contributed to the discussions.
In her opening address, Dr. Fouad noted Egypt’s inspiring journey in implementing the circular economy concept, marked by accumulated expertise, success stories, lessons learned, and adaptation from challenges. She clarified that while waste management is a highly suitable sector for circular economy principles, the national strategy targets eight promising sectors, including agriculture, industry, tourism, construction, textiles, chemicals, and plastics. The primary objective of the consultative session, she explained, is to establish working groups comprising diverse stakeholders to collaboratively implement circular economy principles within each targeted sector.
Minister Fouad pointed out the significant efforts made by the Egyptian state, under the leadership of the President and the Prime Minister, over the past ten years to integrate the environmental dimension and harmonize economic development with environmental considerations. This aims to achieve sustainable economic growth and align with the global movement towards optimal utilization of natural resources for future generations.
Dr. Fouad further elaborated that the circular economy application model varies across sectors based on their unique characteristics and even within the same sector. For instance, in waste management, the approach for municipal solid waste, focusing on infrastructure for recycling, compost, alternative fuel, and energy production, differs from the agricultural waste model, which involves collection, compression, reuse, and empowering small farmers.
Dr. Fouad showcased several successful circular economy implementations across various sectors. In industry, examples include water reuse in manufacturing to reduce waste, costs, and operational expenses, as well as energy efficiency initiatives in factories. In the plastics and packaging sector, efforts are underway to reuse plastic bottles and involve small fishermen in collecting plastic waste from water resources for recycling.
She also highlighted the initiative to encourage licensing electronic waste recycling factories to produce reusable raw materials, the efficient use of raw materials from construction and demolition waste, the pioneering experience in aggregate crushers through the New Urban Communities Authority, and the “Waste to Good Taste” initiative in the textile sector, launched in collaboration with the Egyptian Clothing Bank during COP27, to reuse used clothes and fabrics with innovative designs.
Dr. Fouad stressed the importance of incorporating these diverse success stories from each sector into the national circular economy strategy. She urged the advisory group responsible for preparing the strategy to provide clear steps for designing a roadmap tailored to each sector’s nature, capitalizing on its promising opportunities, and achieving tangible progress in the strategy’s implementation.
The Minister also emphasized the need for clear implementation mechanisms that consider cross-cutting issues across different sectors, such as water and energy, and for building national capacities through integrating a supportive climate, institutional empowerment, and individual training. Additionally, she highlighted the importance of enabling implementation mechanisms such as engaging the banking sector, twinning with implemented projects and entrepreneurs, evaluating and maximizing the benefits of existing national mechanisms, technology transfer, and relying on scientific research in each sector.
Dr. Fouad expressed her hope for the swift development of a national circular economy strategy that befits Egypt’s stature and serves as a leading model for Arab and African countries to replicate and build upon.
Dr. Ali Abu Senna, CEO of the EEAA, expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the concerned ministries and bodies, particularly the Federation of Egyptian Industries, in developing the circular economy strategy, which encompasses eight key sectors: agriculture, industry, tourism, textiles, plastics and packaging, demolition and construction, electronics, and waste. He added that the ministry aims to develop a clear national circular economy strategy with an action plan aligned with the state’s direction to encourage private sector investment and create job opportunities nationwide.
Dr. Abu Senna emphasized that the transition to a circular economy is no longer an option but a necessity dictated by current global economic conditions and their impact, requiring a collective focus on environmental and natural resource protection within efforts to support improvement, development, and increased capabilities. This includes state policies and strategies to reduce pollution sources and address climate change seriously. He affirmed that consultations during workshops and the identification of national priorities for sectors have compiled a significant number of studies within Egypt, which previously remained largely unutilized. The ministry aims to leverage these studies by developing a national strategy linked to an action plan, establishing a methodology and mechanism for a future economy based on integrating environmental protection and cooperation in sustainable development. The circular economy is a crucial and complementary part of the state’s ambitious plan to increase investments, exports, and greater reliance on and rational use of natural resources.
Mr. Yasser Abdullah highlighted the concept of the circular economy in the waste management system, noting the Egyptian state’s efforts over the past years with various stakeholders to improve the waste management system and transform this challenge into a promising economic opportunity through reuse and recycling. Significant progress has been made, starting with the strategy for municipal and non-hazardous waste, reaching advanced stages according to a specific timeframe. He explained that Egypt generates over 100 million tons of waste of all types, and work is underway with various state bodies according to the waste type. Efforts have focused on developing the waste management system from all institutional, technical, financial, and legislative aspects, reflected in the development of infrastructure such as recycling plants, sanitary landfills, transfer stations, and operation contracts with the private sector. Regarding agricultural waste, efforts have focused on turning the problem of burning this waste into an economic opportunity, with ongoing efforts in cooperation with relevant authorities and development partners.
Engineer Samah Saleh, Head of the Sustainable Development Unit, emphasized the importance of such events in generating constructive visions and a new impetus for developing an integrated circular economy strategy. She thanked the Minister of Environment and the consultants for their efforts in preparing the strategy, which is being jointly developed by the EEAA and the WMRA. She explained that the circular economy is a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development, aiming to reduce resource loss through reuse, recycling, and optimal resource utilization, thereby contributing to pollution reduction, green job creation, and supporting the transition towards a low-carbon, more efficient, and resilient economy in the face of environmental and economic challenges.
Mr. Koen Rademaekers of the ACEN Foundation outlined the features of developing circular economy strategies and their roadmap, starting with defining the circular economy, its importance, and priority sectors. He highlighted countries with circular economy strategies and roadmaps, particularly in Africa, such as Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, and Nigeria. He also emphasized the necessity of political will to implement this type of economy, evident in measures such as forming a national steering committee comprising relevant sectors, ministries, and stakeholders, establishing a governing framework, focusing on implemented projects and measurement tools, a financial vision to support the required actions, and a future investment vision.
Dr. Sarah, representing the ACEN Foundation, commended the Minister of Environment’s comprehensive overview during the workshop, which covered all points addressed by the research team. She praised the workshop’s practical focus, explaining that the circular economy concept is more comprehensive than the green economy, extending beyond recycling to include the design and production of products that do not become waste in the first place, aiming to minimize waste generation. She noted that the circular economy encompasses multiple concepts, including developing the product lifecycle to enable its use for the longest possible period, in addition to promoting efficiency in resource use and conservation. She pointed out that the national circular economy strategy has focused on eight key sectors, in cooperation with several ministries and relevant international bodies, in a step aimed at achieving sustainable development and contributing to building more sustainable production and consumption patterns.
