Over 170 tonnes of branding materials from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are being recycled in Saudi Arabia, according to Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC).
Keeping in line with the tournament’s sustainability goals, the SC has partnered with Riyadh-based Saudi Top Plastic Factory (STP) to recycle the materials into plastic pellets, which will used to create new products such as tapes, fabrics, and packaging. Made from polyester fabric, the materials were used as banners, fence coverings, and stadium wraps.
Bodour Al-Meer, Sustainability Executive Director at SC, says, “In the past, mega event organizers have found it challenging to dispose polyester in an environmentally friendly way. We made it a priority to find a sustainable solution which led us to this collaboration. We are very pleased to have partnered with STP, as they are supporting our goal of recycling materials which too often end up being sent to landfill.”
For Qatar, STP was the nearest facility that had the ability to recycle polyester fabric used during football’s blue riband event that concluded on 18 December last year. The process of removing, collecting, and transferring the materials was conducted in close coordination with customs authorities, logistics partners, and suppliers.
Wail Aljaaidi, CEO at STP, says, “We are delighted to partner with SC on this project, which highlights the possibility of sustainable solutions for mega events like the FIFA World Cup. We are proud to be supporting the sustainable legacy of the tournament.”
The recycling of polyester fabrics was one among the many environmental projects organized during Qatar 2022. Nearly 80% of all waste from the tournament was recycled by the organizers, with the remainder sent to a waste-to-energy plant.
Established in 2011, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy was responsible for the 2022 FIFA World Cup host country planning and operations.
