JEDDAH: Saudi environmental activist Khulood Al-Fadli has officially entered the Guinness World Records for creating the world’s largest mural using plastic bottle caps, symbolizing a green Saudi Arabia.

The mural, which covers an area of 383 square meters, involved the use of 500,000 plastic bottle caps.

The Saudi teacher, who was supported by Green Leaves School students during the eight months it took to create the mural, aims to preserve the environment by reusing and reducing plastic.

Al-Fadli submitted a raft of evidence including video footage, data and witness statements to Guinness World Records and spoke to Arab News of her delight after learning they had confirmed that her application had been successful.

“I’m just so, so pleased for this second record — it was a lot of work for everybody involved, especially the team who supported me,” she said. “It was a while waiting to hear whether it would be officially verified, so when I found out it had been approved it was a huge relief, not so much for myself but for all of those who gave up their time to help make it happen.”

In 2021, Al-Fadli registered the “Making a Map of the World Using Plastic Covers” initiative as the biggest such map in the world, and which was launched with the Ministry of Sports as part of aims to preserve the environment in Jeddah. The 250-square meter, record-breaking world map was made using 350,000 plastic bottle caps.

She added: “Praise be to Allah, always and forever, in the completion of the largest mural in the world … symbolizing the green Saudi Arabia between our past, our civilization and our bright future. The mural took eight months of perseverance and persistence. (It) aims to reuse and reduce plastic and preserve the environment. Thank you for everyone’s support for this initiative and thanks to my team (Keep It Green) and my family and husband who believed in me.”

The certificate for Al-Fadli’s achievement was handed over during a special ceremony at the Jeddah Corniche with the attendance of officials from Guinness World Records and Jeddah Municipality, and members of her family, school and community.

The plastic caps for the mural were collected as a community effort, with contributions from the school students, family, friends and a growing number of plastic bottle cap donors. The caps were cleaned, positioned, and finishing touches added.

Al-Fadli’s students helped created the mosaic mural and learned the importance of repurposing plastic in the process. The children also visited the mural with Al-Fadli, who is the school’s principal, after its completion.

The artist explained that the children participate in many environmental sustainability projects, including cleaning beaches and landscaping in public parks. They were also involved in the 2021 record-breaking world map.