Nadia Al-Sadi

Saudi environmental entrepreneur pioneering plastic waste recycling in the Middle East

Nadia Al-Sadi (b. 1992) is revolutionizing waste management in Saudi Arabia through her company GreenCycle Solutions. Founded in 2019, her firm developed the PolyRecycle process - a chemical recycling technology converting 98% of plastic waste into fuel and raw materials. This innovation addresses the Kingdom's 15 million tons annual plastic waste challenge, diverting 30% of Riyadh's plastic from landfills by 2023.

Al-Sadi's patented Plas2Fuel system produces diesel and jet fuel with 40% lower carbon footprint than conventional fuels. Her 2022 TEDx talk "Turning Trash into Treasure" showcases how this technology powers 20% of Saudi Arabia's airport shuttles. She partnered with Saudi Aramco to create the ZeroWaste Industrial Parks initiative, now operating in Jeddah and Dammam.

Her 2021 book 《The Plastic Revolution: How Recycling Will Save Our Planet》 details her vision for circular economies. Al-Sadi's EcoMentor program trains 5,000+ youth annually in waste management, with 60% of graduates starting their own recycling businesses. She co-founded the GCC Circular Economy Alliance, reducing regional plastic use by 25% through corporate partnerships.

In 2024, she unveiled SeaGuard - biodegradable fishing nets made from recycled ocean plastics. Her collaboration with UN Environment Programme (UNEP) expanded this technology across Southeast Asia. Al-Sadi's Women4Green initiative has empowered 3,000 Saudi women to enter sustainability careers through her online academy.

Current projects include a solar-powered recycling plant in Abu Dhabi and a blockchain platform tracking waste-to-resource supply chains. Her work has positioned Saudi Arabia as a regional leader in sustainability, earning her the 2023 Arab Women Innovators Award.