Technical and scientific support for environmental and social sustainability in the Robikki tanning industrial district, Cairo, Egypt

Title Technical assistance to implement the Robbiki Leather City (RLC) relocation project

Location Cairo, Egypt

Duration 2024-2026

Lead partner Comistra srl

Partners Fondazione PIN Polo di Prato dell’Università di Firenze, Assomac Servizi S.r.l, PO.TE.CO. S.c.r.l. Società Generale per la Gestione del Polo Tecnologico Conciario

FundingAgenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo (AICS)

 

Context

The tanning activities in Cairo, historically located in the Magra el Eyoun district, suffer from infrastructural deficiencies and precarious health and environmental conditions. In order protect and enhance the skills acquired in leather tanning and at the same time to address these social and environmental issues, the Robikki Leather City was created. Robikki Leather City is an industrial district specialising in leather processing, located 60 kilometres from Cairo and equipped with infrastructure that complies with environmental and regulatory requirements.

The intervention aims to strengthen the sustainability and competitiveness of the tanning sector through three main lines of action:

  • Management of shared infrastructure (wastewater treatment plants, chromium recovery, waste disposal and recovery), thanks to the training of district management personnel (CID – Cairo for Investment & Development
  • Organisation and launch of a quality control and training technology centre (LTTC -), a technology and training centre dedicated to providing advanced services to tanning companies and developing professional qualification programmes.
  • Technical and training support to introduce environmental and quality management systems compliant with international standards (ISO 9001 and ISO 14001), promoting the adoption of environmentally sustainable and innovative practices.

The objective of creating the Robikki tanning district is therefore twofold: on the one hand, to improve environmental conditions and reduce the impact of tanning; on the other, to make the Egyptian tanning sector more competitive on international markets by promoting technological innovation, process quality and the enhancement of local professional skills.

 

Obiettivo Generale

The technical assistance project, within the Robikki district, aims to support the adoption of environmentally friendly procedures and the implementation of a management system framework that complies with international standards. The Circular Innovation & Sustainable Commodities Unit was involved through the PIN Foundation precisely to provide the scientific and technical support necessary to strengthen the operational capabilities of the industrial park’s management entity.

 

Cosa abbiamo fatto?

The ARCO research group was involved in the selection and evaluation of the management staff of Cairo Investment for Urban Industrial Development (CID) and in specific training activities for the Management Team Staff, particularly on the international standards ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

To carry out these activities, the research group conducted an in-depth document analysis, focusing on the basic requirements of a Quality Management System, staff profiles, the organisational chart and existing procedures.

At the same time, the Circular Innovation and Sustainable Commodities Research Unit developed an Environmental Management Plan, an Environmental Monitoring Plan and a training plan for the professionals who will be responsible for implementing them.

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