Flexible plastics such as shopping bags, multilayer packaging, and lightweight wrapping materials have become one of the most complex waste streams in terms of collection, sorting, and recycling. The article “A Turning Point for Flexible Plastics Recycling” published on Recycling Today (2026) highlights an international shift in addressing this challenge, emphasizing that solutions are no longer purely technical, but increasingly depend on partnerships, enabling policies, and the development of sustainable markets for recycled materials. This direction is evident in global trends as follows:
- The importance of extended producer responsibility, improved packaging design, and the development of efficient collection and sorting systems (Alliance to End Plastic Waste and Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2026).
- In the Arab region, Saudi Arabia represents a leading example through its environmental transformation initiatives under Vision 2030, with ongoing expansion of sorting and processing facilities and a strong focus on the circular economy (Saudi Green Initiative, 2026).
- In Egypt, extended producer responsibility regulations and environmental fees have supported the collection and treatment of plastic waste (CEDARE, 2025).
These experiences point to a real opportunity for the Arab region to harmonize policies, accelerate investment, and transform the flexible plastics challenge into sustainable environmental and economic value.
