According to the World Environment Fund ( WWF), more than half of plastic becomes waste less than a year after it was produced, and most are sent to landfills or incinerators, rather than recycled or reused. Few countries have achieved significant rates of separate collection for plastic, which would ensure the steady supply of plastic material for recycling. Unfortunately in Egypt, the disposal system for different types of waste is not well established. UpFuse, Egyptian Start-up is fighting the plastic waste problem by upcycling single-used plastic bags and by converting them into bags, totes and accessory cases.

One of the biggest plastic polluters of the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt. In 2016, the country produced 2.28 million tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste, meaning waste that remains uncollected or illegally dumped into landfills or openly dumped on the streets. The major problem of waste management is the insufficient recycling infrastructure and a limited supply of high-quality plastic waste.

UpFuse is a Cairo based start-up that recycles plastic and goods to create upcycled bags, totes and accessory cases. The Company creates sustainable fashion that supports local communities while raising awareness of plastic waste and related environmental problems.

Until now, they upcycled 500,280 plastic bags. The company works with artisans who possess skills that have been neglected and rendered on today’s mass production system. They seek to support unprivileged locals and refugees in the handcrafts business and provide them with the means to create these only made-once products.