Jakarta, 16 October 2024 – PT Sirkular Karya Indonesia (SKI), together with PT Impack Pratama Industri Tbk. (Impack), hosted its Kick-Off Program: Volunteer for a Cleaner and Healthier Beach at Teluk Labuan Beach in Pandeglang, Banten. Teluk is a village located in the Labuan Subdistrict of Pandeglang Regency, located approximately three hours from Jakarta. It has a population of around 13,000 people, many of whom rely on the sea for their livelihoods. Unfortunately, this village faces a daunting challenge: waste. Waste from marine debris and carried by river currents have accumulated along the shoreline. Those living in the area have become accustomed to the conditions; in fact, salted fish being dried on top of piles of rubbish has become a common sight when visiting here.

Waste disposal into river basins and the sea is a critical environmental problem in Teluk and is the root of the waste problem in Teluk Labuan Beach. Locals’ awareness of this issue remains alarmingly low despite various initiatives by the local Environmental Services Agency (Dinas Lingkungan Hidup or DLH). This situation is particularly urgent, as improperly managed waste–especially plastic waste–poses a severe threat to marine ecosystems. Over time, plastics degrade into micro- and nano-plastics, which not only threaten biodiversity but also infiltrate the food chain, presenting long-term risks to human health.

Acknowledging this, SKI, in collaboration with Gerakan Pasti, has identified opportunities to share their expertise in tackling this environmental issue. What makes this cleanup activity particularly special is SKI’s innovative approach: instead of sending the collected waste to landfills, it will be sent to the SKI factory located in Karawang Regency to be processed into valuable and durable building material composites.

This program, which also happens to be the first beach cleanup organized by SKI and Impack, aims to educate local communities about proper waste disposal practices. Through active community involvement, SKI seeks to raise awareness of the importance of disposing of waste properly, rather than in rivers or the sea. The initiative not only focuses on fostering a healthier coastal environment for both residents and visitors, but also aims to inspire local communities to take ownership of the beach’s cleanliness by becoming actively involved in preserving their surroundings for future generations.

This event involved local communities, including fishermen and local residents, who are risk owners of this environmental problem. A total of 170 volunteers participated in this activity, including Impack and SKI employees, representatives from Saint-Gobain Indonesia and Mitsui Indonesia, students from Universitas Multimedia Nusantara and Universitas Trisakti, and local youth groups such as Rehabilitasi Foundation, Pemuda Lintas Desa (PELITA), and Barisan Relawan Desa Teluk (BARADE).

This program and its volunteers were warmly welcomed by residents, represented by their Village Head, Mr. Shopian Hadi. In his welcoming speech, Mr. Shopian Hadi expressed gratitude for the volunteers’ and SKI’s concern and presence, hoping the event would inspire local communities to actively engage in protecting their environment moving forward. SKI is optimistic this initiative will create a more caring and proactive local community, and believes that this small step, together with SKI’s innovative solutions regarding plastic waste, will have a long-term impact in overcoming the plastic waste problem in Indonesia.