UNIDO Morocco and the Switch to Circular Economy Value Chains project joined the national workshop organized by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of Morocco to mark the World Environment Day. Under the title "Plastic Pollution: Challenges and Opportunities," the event took place on 9 June in Rabat and brought a number of experts and stakeholders from public and private institutions, civil society organizations, and the international community represented by UN agencies, the EU Delegation and the World Bank.
Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali chaired the event. In her remarks, EU Ambassador to Morocco Patricia Llombart Cussac mentioned UNIDO-led SWITCH2CE project as an exemplary model of the circular economy that merits close attention and support.
With several presentations and panel discussions, the workshop served as a platform for constructive dialogue, facilitating the exchange of ideas and strategies to address the pressing issue of plastic pollution. A key focus was placed on the importance of adopting regulations that promote recycling and align with international standards.
As part of the panel discussion on Circular economy solutions for plastic waste, the UNIDO-led Switch to Circular Economy Value Chains project was presented in more details. Yasmina Lembachar from Circle Economy, one of the project’s implementing partners, shared the upcoming project activities in Morocco and discussed the scale of the challenge globally and in Morocco and how a value chain perspective is needed to consider solutions and implications for all value chain actors in the circular economy transition for plastics.
This national workshop underscores Morocco’s commitment to tackle plastic pollution and sets the stage for collaboration towards a more sustainable and cleaner future, where plastic pollution can be effectively addressed and mitigated.
The Switch to Circular Economy Value Chains project (SWITCH2CE) is a global initiative that assists EU multinational companies and their suppliers from developing countries to switch to circular economy approaches and practices in three selected value chains: Plastic Packaging, Textile & Garments, and ICT and Electronics. In Morocco, SWITCH2CE supports the switch to circularity in plastic packaging by supporting a pilot project that aims to set up a bottle-to-bottle recycling system in the country. SWITCH2CE also supports the creation of enabling environment since circular value chain transformations also require a supportive landscape of circular economy-friendly policies, finance mechanisms, skills, consumer awareness and platforms for collaboration. By investing in the recycling of key waste streams, Morocco can reap a competitive advantage in the region and continent.
SWITCH2CE is co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Finland, and implemented by UNIDO, in collaboration with Chatham House, Circle Economy, and the European Investment Bank.
Photo credits: Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of Morocco
