As a university that has concern for environmental sustainability, University of Indonesia always strives to increase public awareness of the impact of plastic waste.
One of them is by educating the younger generation about the importance of a circular economy through a program webinar titled #PlastikkuUangku on Saturday, (5/3). The event, which was held by the UI Faculty of Engineering with Le Minerale, came with the theme “Circular Economy: Solutions for Indonesian Plastic Waste and Mitigation of Climate Change”.
Presenting resource persons who are experts in their fields, this event is not only attended by students who are members of Green Polymer Technology (GPTech), but is also open to the public. Then, what is discussed in webinar the? Let’s take a look at the following article!
1. Transition of a linear economy to a circular economy
Circular economy (Doc. Greeners.co) guysDo you know that used plastic bottles have economic value if they are recycled into new products? Yep, plastic is designed as a material that can be recycled.
For this reason, the conventional linear economy is not suitable to accommodate the plastic life cycle and begin to switch to a circular economy. Before discussing linear and circular economics further, it’s good to see the explanation of the two concepts. keep reading!
Linear economy is a form of economy that uses the concept of “take-make-and disposeSo resources are taken, made into a product, used by humans, and discarded after their lifetime.
While the circular economy is an industrial model that takes the concept of “make-use-recycle“. Where the industry is not only focused on waste management, but also keeps resources used as long as possible.
Therefore, linear economy does not fit into the plastic life cycle because it does not take into account the recycling process. Well, garbage that cannot be recycled will certainly result in the accumulation of waste and pollution.
“People need to change the concept of a linear economy into a circular economy. Economic stimulation will encourage many parties to be involved in the utilization of recycled waste,” said the FTUI lecturer, Dr. Mochamad Chalid, S.Si., M.Sc. Eng., in webinar #PlastickuUangku.
Also Read: Interesting Circular Economy Facts, Could Be Climate Change Mitigation!
2. Focus on waste management and reforestation
GPTech x Le Minerale plastic educational video: Peel Complete Plastic (YouTube/Green Polymer Technology SCUI) In webinar #PlastikkuUangku, Dean of the UI Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Dr. Heri Hermansyah, ST, M.Eng., also said that FTUI participated in efforts to support the circular economy campaign by focusing on organic and inorganic waste sorting programs.
Nearly 90% of organic waste is processed into compost, while inorganic waste is processed and recycled by the Depok waste bank. For waste in the form of plastic bottles, some were chopped up as research samples for students and lecturers.
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“One of the results of this research is asphalt made from multilayer plastic waste. This is part of a pilot project for the use of low-value plastic waste materials as asphalt mixtures,” said Prof. Harry.
3. Circular economy from an industrial point of view
Plastic as a raw material has advantages and disadvantages when viewed from an industrial point of view. From the positive side, plastic is a material that is light, strong, not easy to corrode, cheap, and low in carbon. Meanwhile, from the negative side, plastic is a component that is difficult and takes a long time to decompose so that it can accumulate garbage.
With the circular economy, plastic and other waste can be recycled and extract the maximum value from its use. Of course this can work if there is the right infrastructure and mentality of all stakeholdersnamely regulators, producers, business actors, associations, and the public.
“Le Minerale as a water producer takes a stand to be a catalyst that spreads knowledgeimproving the performance of the recycling industry, and building upstream to downstream partnerships for a circular economy are real solutions in Indonesia,” said Ronald Atmadja, Director of Sustainability at Le Minerale when delivering an overview of the circular economy from an industry point of view.
4. The recycling industry is needed by the world
Illustration of Plastic Waste Recycling (Doc. IDN Times) You will agree that plastic waste can be a very big problem if not managed properly. For this reason, the General Chair of the Indonesian Plastic Recycling Association (ADUPI), Christine Halim said that currently the industry and manpower in the recycling sector are in great demand in the world.
“So it is better for us to sort the waste and process it again. It will definitely be useful and can generate economic value that is useful for many people,” said Christine.
5. Education via YouTube
GPTech x Le Minerale plastic educational video: Peel Complete Plastic (YouTube/Green Polymer Technology SCUI) Along with activities webinar Today, Le Minerale together with GPTech also launched the first video about plastic education on the GPTech YouTube channel. The video broadcast is part of GPTech’s work program to educate the public about plastic.
Not only educational videos, GPTech also has other educational programs specifically designed for the younger generation such as podcastguest lectures, and research groups.
Wow, the collaboration between GPTech and Le Minerale is really cool! Hopefully, with these programs, more people, especially millennials and Generation Z, will aware with environmental issues and plastic waste yes. (WEB)
Also Read: What is a Circular Economy? Understand the Concept and Its Advantages