Bariq is the first and biggest PET bottle-to-bottle recycler in the Middle East and North Africa region but that alone doesn’t define this regional powerhouse. It is its unwavering commitment to quality, sustainability, and social responsibility that sets it apart in a rapidly evolving market. The wholly owned subsidiary of the Intro Resource Recovery Holding family, Bariq, is all set to expand its horizon and push for new frontiers.
Founded in 2011 and commencing production in 2012, the enterprise quickly rose to prominence as Egypt’s pioneering producer of food-grade recycled PET (rPET). Equipped with cutting-edge technology for recycling, the company adheres to stringent standards of 16 Global Certifications including EFSA, FDA, and Health Canada, and complies with the regulations of REACH & GRS, setting new standards in the industry.
Each year, Bariq recycles about up to 3.75 billion PET bottles. Until 2022, it has transformed approximately 17.6 billion PET bottles into food and non-food grade pellets, with almost fully traced sourcing material from diverse markets and geographies. This is equivalent to the production of 140,000 tons of food grade pellets and reduction of 300,000 tons of CO2 emissions, marking a major contribution in plastic neutrality and climate protection.
Bariq is getting the bottles through sustainable sourcing from many different regions with a special focus on the local Egyptian market. Having a robust network within the local market from the waste pickers, to bailers and traders, Bariq ensures meeting the clients traceability and sustainability targets and positively impacts the local waste management community. On the other hand, Bariq has got imported bales from sustainable sources from Europe, Africa and the Middle East fulfilling sustainability, traceability, and circularity mandates of its customers and clients.
Speaking to Waste & Recycling magazine, Ahmed Abdel Fattah, Chief Commercial Officer, Intro Resource Recovery, said that Bariq’s production capacity has steadily increased from 15,000 metric tons in 2012 to 35,000 metric tons today. It also has set a target to increase the capacity to 55,000 metric tons per year in Egypt by September 2024.
Abdel Fattah said that the company's acquisition by Intro Group in 2021 marked a significant turning point, enabling substantial growth and expansion. “Its robust market position is characterized by its reputation for delivering high-quality, sustainable products that meet the strict requirements of major clients, including global giants like Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Nestlé,” he added. It serves a global clientele in the packaging sector, exporting 90% of its output to bottle and food container producers to 17 foreign countries and brand owners across Europe & North America and in the GCC countries.
New plant in Saudi Arabia
Bariq is poised to expand its footprint further in the region, with a new plant in Saudi Arabia set to begin production. Beginning with a production capacity of 15,000 metric tons per year in the Kingdom, the company targets a total capacity in this new plant of 55,000 metric tons annually within one year period.
With the above plan, INTRO Resource Recovery total production output from Egypt & KSA will reach a total capacity of 110,000 metric tons per year, which is almost seven times growth year over year compared to 2021 when INTRO acquired Bariq.

Embracing innovation and technology
The state-of-the-art recycling facility utilizes advanced technologies to ensure the highest quality of recycled products. Bariq’s recycling process, which involves multiple stages, including sorting, washing, and extrusion, is meticulously managed to ensure the purity and quality of the final product.
The production unit has been equipped with cutting-edge AMUT and Starlinger PET recycling lines since 2012, and it produces compliant PET pellets and maintains a positive EFSA opinion and an FDA Letter of Non-Objection (LNO). It also hosts TOMRA’s AUTOSORT 5 Performance Model in the washing line bottles sorter in its expansion. “Furthermore, we have the Starlinger Artline, which is the only one installed in the region,” said Abdel Fattah.
Commitment to sustainability
The CCO explained that Bariq's sustainability agenda revolves around six main pillars: Responsible operations, ethical sourcing, carbon footprint reduction, social development, sustainable products, and economic expansion.
Its mission is to transform post-consumer PET bottles into high-quality recycled PET (rPET) food-grade pellets, thereby reducing the need for virgin materials and minimizing waste. The company's operations are guided by principles of sustainability, focusing on reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, and minimizing waste generation. “It recently reached a mitigation level of 260,000+ metric tons of CO2 emission,” said Abdel Fattah. The company is aiming to save one million tons of CO2 by 2030. Through recycling, it prevents waste from being dumped in the ocean or landfills, which reduces GHG emissions, and protects the environment.
Bariq maintains efficient performance and ensures strict adherence to anti-corruption laws and labour standards, earning it the prestigious B Corp Certification, he pointed out adding, “Our sustainable procurement model not only supports ethical sourcing but also provides sustainable income to all layers of our supply chain, ensuring the prevention of child labor.”
He noted that the company works to improve the lives of various communities by offering monetary incentives, better working and social conditions, and promoting health and safety. This includes providing medical insurance, ensuring access to clean drinking water, and raising sustainability awareness through various initiatives.
“We promote equity among employees and increase awareness through our Sustainability Academy, offering programs in schools, universities, and corporates,” he said, adding that the company is dedicated to economic expansion, promoting the circular economy, issuing green bonds, and complying with sustainable finance regulations, all while setting progressive business goals. Bariq also works with its sister company to provide training for the informal sector.
Worth mentioning that Bariq earned the “Recycling Company of the Year” Award by MEWAR Awards in 2019 and 2022.
Certifications and their impact
Being in line with the needs of the global players in the packaging industry is a priority for Bariq. It is compliant with almost all global certifications including but not limited to: USFDA, EFSA, Health Canada, EU CertPlast and EU Reach.
Other certifications include ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems, ISO 22000 – Food Safety Management, ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems, ISO 45001 – Occupational health and safety management systems, ISO 17025 – Testing & Calibration Laboratories, BRCGS – Food Safety Global Standard, RecyClass – Recycling Guidelines, REACH – Environmental and SEDEX.
“These certifications not only enhance our operational capabilities but also position us as a trusted partner in the global market, meeting the rigorous demands of our clients.”
Ethical sourcing initiatives
The ethical sourcing practices of Bariq ensure traceability and compliance through a blockchain-based tool called DAWAR*, developed by its sister tech company, Environ Services. According to Abdel Fattah, “The tool traces post-consumer waste from collection to recycling using multiple data sources. It helps us to ensure that all our suppliers meet stringent social and environmental criteria, including the prohibition of child labor, gender equality and ensuring fair wages and working conditions.”
Operating in Egypt presents its challenges, particularly due to the informal nature of the waste management sector. However, Bariq has navigated through these challenges by leveraging Dawar’s collection and traceability capabilities, ensuring a steady supply of post-consumer waste for recycling.
Participation in Plastics Recycling Show MEA
As Bariq looks to the future, the company remains focused on growth and innovation. It will showcase its latest developments during its participation in the Plastics Recycling Show Middle East & Africa Show along with being its lanyard sponsor for the second year in a row between September 10 and 12 in Dubai. “We aim to explore and seize growth opportunities in the region. While we have recently managed to penetrate the Middle Eastern market, we aspire to achieve even greater growth. We hope to realize these ambitions through our involvement in this significant event.”
We have a vision of Restoring the Balance by giving a second chance to earth.. One Bottle at a time!
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* DAWAR is a traceability software to digitalize the waste collection by monitoring & managing the process through an online backend & frontend mobile apps. Check it out on IOS & Android Stores & Instagram.