The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council have signed a Joint Declaration to strengthen cooperation in promoting the circular economy and sustainable industrial development in the region. This partnership is established within the framework of the SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains (SWITCH2CE) project, an initiative co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Finland to drive the transition towards circular value chains globally. The SWITCH2CE project aligns with Morocco’s national objectives for reducing plastic pollution, particularly the National Waste Reduction and Recovery Strategy (SNRVD), which aims to achieve a 70% recycling rate by 2030. The project is in line with the Morocco-EU Green Partnership signed in October 2022, which emphasizes climate, energy, and green economy as part of the external dimension of the European Green Deal.

The Declaration, signed by Ms. Sanae Lahlou, UNIDO Country Representative in Morocco, on behalf of Mr. Gerd Müller, Director-General of UNIDO, and Mr. Abdellatif Mazouzi, President of the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council, underscores a shared commitment to fostering innovative solutions for plastic waste management, improving recycling systems, and enhancing social inclusion within the sector. Through this agreement, Casablanca-Settat Regional Council joins the UNIDO-led (SWITCH2CE) project. A key component of the SWITCH2CE project in Morocco is an industrial pilot led by Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company (ECCBC) and its global and local partners. This pilot aims to validate a financially viable process for PET collection and recycling while demonstrating the technical feasibility and traceability of using rPET (recycled PET) in primary packaging, including food-grade plastic. The goal is to establish a bottle-to-bottle recycling system in Morocco.