Circular solutions to plastic pollution in Morocco

To accelerate the transition towards a circular economy for plastics in the food and beverage sector of Morocco through the adoption and enhancement of circular approaches.

Plastic pollution in marine environments is severely affecting the blue economy's potential, marine habitats, and the ecosystem services in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, due to significant leakage of waste into the oceans. On average, each person in the MENA region contributes 6kg of plastic waste annually to the seas, with the Mediterranean Sea emerging as a critical hotspot for marine plastic pollution . In Morocco, the plastics industry plays a crucial role in the nation's development, supporting around 75,000 direct and over 320,000 indirect jobs, and achieving a turnover of approximately $2.3 billion in 2019. This sector, which heavily relies on imports of 680,000 tonnes of new plastic and 80,000 tonnes of nationally produced recycled materials (meeting only 10.5% of its needs), faces the challenge of utilizing recycled materials due to safety concerns. The food industry, consuming about 50% of the plastics sector's output primarily for packaging, is a significant contributor to this issue. Consequently, there's a pressing need for the industry to enhance its competitive edge by securing access to high-quality, competitively priced recycled materials as alternatives to new plastic imports.

Plastic pollution has a profound economic impact on Morocco's Blue Economy, incurring annual losses of $26 million. Coastal tourism suffers a yearly loss of $13.6 million due to pollution, with tourists generating approximately 18kT of waste, costing $900,000 in waste management. Moreover, marine pollution interferes with maritime activities, such as boating and fishing, leading to a 0.3% reduction in the GDP from fishing, equating to an $8 million loss annually.
To combat plastic pollution, Morocco has implemented significant measures as part of its National Strategy for Sustainable Development. These measures include strengthening the legal framework with the enactment of Law 77-15, which bans plastic bags, and amending Law 28.00 on waste management to adopt the principle of extended producer responsibility. Furthermore, since 2013, an eco-tax on plastic materials has been levied to support the National Fund of Environment and Sustainable Development (FNEDD), initially set at 1.5% ad valorem and later adjusted to 1%, generating around $25 million annually.

The aim of the project is to hasten the shift toward a circular economy for plastics within Morocco's food and beverage industry, by promoting and advancing circular practices. This initiative will be executed through five interconnected components, aiming to achieve seven key outcomes:

• Enhanced management of plastics and items containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in accordance with Best Environmental Practices (BEP) and Best Available Practices (BAP).
• Raised standards regarding harmful chemicals in disposable plastic items within the food and beverage (F&B) sector.
• Established or reinforced frameworks, policies, and guidelines to minimize the use of disposable plastics and foster a circular economy for plastics in the food and beverage industry.
• Expanded opportunities for the replacement or reuse of disposable plastic items.
• Improved ability of the private sector to enact policies and strategies for circular solutions to combat plastic pollution.
• Increased sharing of experiences and replication of successful practices.
• Heightened awareness of the project's achievements within the global plastics initiative and extending beyond the Global Environment Facility (GEF) portfolio.