Egypt, Japan, UNIDO launch ‘Reduce It' campaign to raise awareness of single-use plastic bag hazards
The campaign is being launched in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
According to a statement released by the Ministry on Saturday, the campaign seeks to promote awareness of the harmful impacts of single-use plastic bags and encourage the adoption of safer, more eco-friendly alternatives. The initiative aligns with World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5.
The launch event will be attended by several dignitaries, including Japanese Ambassador to Egypt Iwai Fumio, who will deliver the opening remarks, and Patrick Jean Gilabert, UNIDO's Regional Representative in Cairo. The campaign officially will also be announced during the event. In addition, Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad and Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir are scheduled to speak.
As part of the event, Sharm El Sheikh, in South Sinai, will be officially recognized as the first Egyptian city to join the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Global Network of Sustainable Cities.
Highlighting the urgency of the campaign, a report released in April 2024 by the Egyptian Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) revealed that Egypt consumed approximately 5 million tons of single-use plastic products during the 2022/2023 fiscal year.
Globally, the report stated that only 10 percent of the estimated 7 billion tons of plastic waste is recycled. The remaining waste ends up polluting the environment, incinerated, or buried unsustainably—often transported thousands of kilometers—contributing to an estimated $300–$600 billion in annual economic damage. The proliferation of plastic pollution has been linked to severe harm to ecosystems and human health.
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