Dow Expands Flexible Packaging Recycling Initiative to Egypt and Guinea
Dow Chemical Company has announced the expansion of its Project REFLEX, a flexible packaging recycling initiative, to Egypt and Guinea after a successful pilot in Nigeria. Launched in 2020, the project focuses on recycling plastic water sachets, which are commonly used for water purification, by encouraging local communities to collect and recycle them.
By 2025, Dow aims to divert 10,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of flexible packaging waste from landfills and the environment. To date, the initiative has successfully diverted 520 MT into mechanical recycling streams. The post-consumer recyclate (PCR) generated from the pilot phase is currently being tested by a major brand for non-food packaging applications, potentially establishing a closed-loop system for plastics in Africa.
The project also aims to create over 50,000 jobs for waste collectors in Nigeria, Egypt, and Guinea through collaboration with Wecyclers, a waste management company. In March, Dow and Wecyclers hosted an event in Lagos to educate the community on plastic recycling and promote local clean-up efforts, marking the start of a grassroots campaign to enhance the collection of flexible plastic sachets.
Olawale Adebiyi, CEO of Wecyclers, emphasized the importance of partnerships with organizations like Dow to develop sustainable solutions for flexible packaging waste, highlighting the positive impact on local businesses during the pilot phase.
The initiative’s expansion into Egypt began in December 2021 through an 18-month partnership with WasteAid, an NGO focused on enhancing waste management skills in lower- and middle-income countries. Dow plans to replicate this partnership model in Guinea to boost flexible plastic collection efforts.
Sami Mainich, regional director at Dow North & West Africa, stated that enabling a closed-loop system is crucial for addressing the plastics waste crisis. He expressed confidence in Dow’s ability to support local enterprises in scaling sustainable solutions.
Adwoa Coleman, Africa sustainability and advocacy manager at Dow, noted that Project REFLEX addresses the entire lifecycle of flexible plastic packaging, aiming for long-term sustainable collection in Nigeria, Egypt, Guinea, and potentially other African markets. Last year, Dow also expanded its partnership with Mr. Green Africa in Kenya to further advance a circular economy for plastics across the continent.