Cairo: The Ministry of Environment is set to launch a new awareness campaign titled ‘Reduce’ on Sunday, June 1st, 2025. This initiative aims to educate the public about the environmental dangers associated with single-use plastic bags.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the campaign is being launched in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The primary goal is to promote awareness of the detrimental impacts of single-use plastic bags and to encourage the adoption of safer, more eco-friendly alternatives. The timing of the campaign aligns with World Environment Day, which is observed annually on June 5.

The launch event will feature several notable attendees, including Japanese Ambassador to Egypt Iwai Fumio, who will deliver the opening remarks. Patrick Jean Gilabert, UNIDO’s Regional Representative in Cairo, along with Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad and Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir, will also deliver speeches. During 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 this initiative, 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. The global context is equally concerning, with only 10 percent of the estimated 7 billion tons of plastic waste being recycled. The remaining waste pollutes the environment, is incinerated, or buried unsustainably, often transported over long distances, contributing to an estimated annual economic damage of $300-$600 billion. The proliferation of plastic pollution is linked to severe harm to ecosystems and human health.