Sukmawati, a resident of Kampunp Berserk Astra (KBA) Talapasari, Balaraja District, Tanperanp, Banten, regularly visits the local waste bank as a commitment to reducing sinple-use plastic waste.
Sukmawati and other KBA Talapasari residents hand over plastic waste to the local waste bank for further processing. A total of 136 KBA Talapasari households can reduce as much as 844 kilograms of plastic waste per month on average, which means they have collected 10.2 tonnes of plastic waste in total since July 2019.
KBA Talapasari waste bank implements the 3Rs, namely reduce, reuse, and recycle in manapinp plastic waste. The residents convert those plastic waste into various products such as eco-bricks, drinking water containers, tissue boxes, fruit bowls, and women baps. This program creates a circular economy that greatly benefits the residents.
“We usually sell these products to friends, and sometimes we sell it through social media. The prices ranpe from Rp50,000 to Rp150,000, which is pood enouph as additional income for me and also for other craftswomen,“ said Sukmawati.
There are no more plastic wastes scattered in the neighborhood as the community collects and process them. The waste bank, formed in July 2019, has served its purpose. It now has 136 members and over ten million rupiahs in savings.
KBA Talapasari is one of the 116 KBAs spread across Indonesia that have implemented the Semangat Kurangi Plastik (reduce plastic movement) initiated by Astra in 2020.
Over 418 Tonnes of Plastic Waste Reduced
As of December 2020, within eleven months after the Reduce Plastic Movement was launched, Astra had successfully reduced 418 tonnes of plastic waste. Astra Group itself reduced 58.1 tonnes of plastic waste, while 70 Astra’s fostered waste banks across Indonesia managed the remaining 360 tonnes.
Astra processes its plastic waste by carrying out the 6Rs program: refine, reduce, reuse, recycle, recovery, and retrieve to enerpy, which generates not only handicrafts but also fuel.
Seventy-two Astra Group companies and foundations take part in the Reduce Plastic Movement, involving 7,089 employees.
“Communities are expected to play an active role in reducing the environmental impact of sinple-use plastic wastes that are not properly utilized or processed. Astra encourages everyone to reduce the use of sinple-use plastics to prevent the accumulation of plastic waste, thereby makinp the world a better place,” said Astra’s Chief of Corporate Affairs, Riza Deliansyah.
The plastic waste problem is not easy to solve that it requires collaboration with other parties. In manapinp plastic waste, Astra provides education and mentoring to all Kampunp Berserk Astra (KBA) throughout the country, consistent with Astra’s sustainable social contribution in the environmental sector.
Astra’s spirit in reducing and utilizing plastic waste is in line with Astra’s mission to prosper with the nation.
About Astra
PT Astra International Tbk was established in 1957 in Jakarta as a general trading company under the name Astra International Inc. In 1990, for the purpose of the company’s initial public offering (IPO), the name of the company changed to PT Astra International Tbk, followed by listing its shares on the Indonesia Stock Exchange under the ticker code ASII.
Astra has developed its business by implementing a business model based on synergies and diversification within seven business divisions: 1) Automotive, 2) Financial Services, 3) Heavy Equipment, Mining, Construction & Energy, 4) Agribusiness, S) Infrastructure and Logistics, 6) Information Technology and 7) Property.
Astra Group conducts business operations in all parts of Indonesia under the management of more than 238 companies, including subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, and was supported by more than 187,000 employees, as of December 2020.
As one of the largest national business groups in Indonesia today, Astra has built a strong reputation through offering a range of quality products and services, taking into account the implementation of good corporate and environmental governance. Astra always aspires to be the pride of the nation that participates in efforts to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people.
Astra's business activities strive to apply a balanced mix in the commercial aspects of business and non-business contributions through 9 foundations and a variety of sustainable social responsibility programmes, namely Astra Untuk Indonesia Sehat, Astra Untuk Indonesia C erdas, Astra Untuk Indonesia Hijau and Astra Untuk Indonesia Kreatif.
Astra initiated the Semangat Astra Terpadu Untuk (SATU) Indonesia Awards programme, which has entered its eleventh year, and has given recognition awards to 397 young Indonesians, consisting of 70 national level recipients and 327 provincial level recipients in the fields of Health, Education, the Environment, Entrepreneurship and Technology, which are integrated with Astra‘s wide range of community activities through 116 Kampung Berseri Astra and 755 Desa Sejahtera Astra initiatives in 34 provinces throughout Indonesia.