Egypt's 'Tile Green' Transforms Plastic Waste Into New Foundations

Beneath trash piles and accumulating plastic scraps, two young Egyptian entrepreneurs were inspired to channel plastic’s daunting persistence into a robust construction tool. 24-year-old Khaled Raafat and 26-year-old Amr Shalan founded ‘Tile Green’ in 2021, producing Egypt’s first eco-friendly interlocking tile, made entirely out of plastic waste.

“Plastic takes years to biodegrade and while this permanency is an environmental hazard, it serves as an advantage in construction and architecture,” Amr Shaalan tells CairoScene. “And while we believe in the importance of green projects, a green product on its own is not enough. It has to be green, high performing, and affordable.”

The Tile Green pilot factory is nestled on the outskirts of the 10th of Ramadan area, where a team of 20 employees breaks down plastic waste, including single-use plastic, into a ‘sludge’ that is then manufactured into bricks. Each tile utilizes an average of 125 plastic bags, a physical testament to Tile Green’s belief in the economic and environmental benefits of its materials.

While the founders were first met with resistance when they first ventured into the market, they believe that’s the case with any new product and have currently sold out their entire product line for 2023, supplying leading real estate companies across Egypt. The founders hope to ultimately join forces with Egyptian eco-initiatives, and shed light on smart waste management solutions across the country.