Fifty years ago, plastic products did not have a grip on our lives and households as they do today. Ceramic, glass, and clay jars, like the Egyptian water jug qolla, were used for storage, and metals like copper and tin were used for cooking and preserving food. Palm leaf baskets, cloth wraps, and parchments were the go-to for shopping and packaging. Garments were made from natural fibers like wool, cotton, leather, and linen. Reuse and repair were the norm, and materials were durable and biodegradable, which is a stark contrast to today’s gruesome piles of single-use plastics, which leak toxic chemicals into our bodies and environment, silently killing nature and wildlife. Plastic waste is projected to triple globally by 2060, from 460 million tons in 2019 to 1,231 million tons, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In August 2025, global negotiations collapsed at INC5.2, the second part of the fifth session of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which is tasked with drafting an international legally binding treaty to curb plastic pollution, once again, following the first session last November in South Korea. Plastic production…
The Plastic Pollution Problem, the Illusion of Comfort, and Egypt’s Role in the Negotiations for a Global Treaty
September 28, 2025
