KIBUMI

[Challenges and Opportunities in Indonesia's PVC Recycling Industry] Author: Ainun Asifa Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is a highly versatile and cost-effective polymer, widely used in both short-life products such as packaging, textiles, and medical devices, as well as long-life products like pipes, window frames, and roofing sheets (Braun, 2001). However, the widespread use of PVC brings significant challenges in managing the resulting waste safely and responsibly (Lewandowski & Skórczewska, 2022). Historically, incinerating PVC waste has been problematic due to the release of harmful dioxins and heavy metal-laden solid waste. Meanwhile, landfilling and open dumping are increasingly seen as the least desirable options in the waste management hierarchy (Hopewell et al., 2009). Recycling offers an alternative, enabling the recovery of materials with minimal environmental impact. In this article, we explore the challenges and opportunities in PVC recycling in Indonesia. A study by KIBUMI (2024) revealed that only 0.2% of PVC waste reaches dumpsites, highlighting the low visibility of PVC in dumpsites. However, a material flow analysis conducted by KIBUMI (2023) estimated that Indonesia generates 687.9 KT of PVC waste annually, with just 57.6 KT (8.3%) being recycled (note that the updated data suggests that the PVC recycling is higher). A significant portion, 247.4 KT, consists of uncollectible PVC waste—such as construction materials that remain embedded in buildings or underground once they exceed their lifespan. Another 217.1 KT is lost during various stages of collection, further underscoring the inefficiencies in the current system. The economic dynamics of PVC recycling present additional challenges. Unlike other materials, the pricing of recycled plastics, including PVC, is heavily influenced by the cost of virgin plastic rather than production costs. Geographic disparities also add complexity. Most recycling centers are concentrated on Java Island, leading to high transportation costs for the wastes to be transported to Java Island. Regional price disparities and volatilities further reflect the challenges. For instance, rigid PVC prices at waste banks range from $0.07 per kilogram in Jakarta to $0.05 per kilogram in Kalimantan (Alexander et al., 2022). Comparatively, post-consumer PVC price remains lower than that of other plastics. These price differences directly impact the types of plastics prioritized by collectors and junk shops, creating a preference for higher-value materials. Despite these challenges, the low recycling rate of PVC waste also signals significant untapped potential. Advancing PVC recycling in Indonesia requires a robust collection system to capture PVC waste more effectively. Additionally, optimizing extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs can significantly boost both collection and recycling rates by involving producers more actively in the management of the end-of-life of the post-consumer PVCs.

🎉 Happy Anniversary, KIBUMI! 🎉 The journey of KIBUMI began in 2020, starting from a humble cow barn transformed into a post-consumer plastic collection center! 🐄 Today, KIBUMI has grown into a digital startup focused on environmental sustainability, turning the challenge of plastic waste into opportunities through service and technology innovation! ♻️✨ With the spirit of collaboration, KIBUMI works hand in hand with various stakeholders—from waste collectors, brand owners/FMCGs, manufacturers, packaging industries, recycling industries, financial institutions, governments, to NGOs. 🌍💪 Let’s celebrate this journey and continue working together to create a circular economy and a cleaner future! 🌿 Thank you to everyone who has supported and become a part of this transformation. #SustainabilityFirst #PlasticWasteSolution #CircularEconomy #StartupSustainability #KIBUMI #SaveThePlanet #RecycleForFuture #GreenTech #WasteManagement #EcoInnovation #GoGreen

The ASEAN-German cooperation project #3RproMar held its closing event and final workshop for one of the pilot projects. The project focused on a Digital Return System (DRS) designed to promote sustainable plastic recycling. The Circular Consortium, a collaboration between KIBUMI and Parongpong Recycle And Waste Lab, led the DRS initiative.    Highlights from the Workshop: 📊Insightful presentations on key outcomes of the DRS project, including performance data of collected plastic packaging waste, results from established partnerships with the brand owners of skincare products (Botanina, Rumah Atsiri and Yagi Forest), target achievements of EPR practices, and the impact on the plastic recycling chain.    💬 An interactive discussion session addressing the findings encountered by the circular consortium and stakeholders, particularly the brand owners of skincare products (Botanina and Yagi Forest) and Parongpong Raw Lab, throughout the DRS implementation.    💡An open discussion with key government agencies (Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan, Bandung City’s Environmental Agency and West Bandung’s Environmental Agency), focused on developing actionable recommendations to enhance and sustain the DRS, especially how the government can further adopt and implement a similar approach for reducing plastic waste in the region.   We hope this pilot project, utilising the DRS, will be adopted in various regions across Indonesia to support long-term sustainability and promote widespread plastic recycling practices. Its implementation would significantly contribute to achieving the Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s Regulation 75/2019 on the Waste Reduction Roadmap by Producers, which targets a 30% reduction in waste at the source.    A heartfelt thank you for the contributions from all parties involved in the success of this pilot project. Together, we are paving the way for more sustainable recycling practices! ♻     Photo credit: Mitha/Parongpong RAW Lab #DigitalReturnSystem #CircularEconomy #GIZ #GIZWorks #ASEAN #Germany

Together Towards Zero Waste Zero Emission! ♻️🌱 🌟On 26 September 2024, the ASEAN-Germany initiative through the GIZ #3RproMar project, in partnership with the Waste Handling Directorate, Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan, successfully hosted the 3rd National Stakeholder Forum with the theme 'Collaboration Towards Zero Waste Zero Emission.' The forum gathered over 240 offline and online participants and 430 views on YouTube, creating a platform for stakeholders to exchange innovative strategies for sustainable waste management as Indonesia aims for zero waste zero emissions by 2050. 🤝Oliver Hoppe, Counsellor of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, underscored the forum's essential role in facilitating strategic exchanges to achieve national targets. Vinda Damayanti Ansjar, Director of Waste Reduction at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, echoed this, emphasising the forum's significance as a persuasive bridge for fostering mutual understanding and effective communication among stakeholders regarding impactful waste management policies. 🔑Government representatives from Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas Republic of Indonesia, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional RI (BRIN RI), Environmental Fund Management Agency (BPDLH), Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), and the Municipality of Manado City delivered the aspects for collaboration towards zero waste zero emission such as the planning, funding scheme, implementation of waste handling, and the urgency of zero waste zero emission due to marine pollution affected by solid waste especially plastic. 💡 The forum also showcased innovative booths from young Indonesian startups focused on waste management, such as Divers Clean Action, KIBUMI, Duitin Indonesia, Parongpong Recycle And Waste Lab, Dulang, Sirsak, Waste4Change and Bumbi. Each shared insights and initiatives aligned with the forum's mission. 🚀The forum concluded with a call to action from Piyush Dhawan, Principal Advisor of 3RproMar to invite everyone to continue supporting and initiating collaborative efforts to work together with GIZ and the Government of Indonesia in achieving the zero waste zero emission target by 2050. 👉 Watch the full forum video here: https://lnkd.in/gHrQMn2J #NationalStakeholderForum #NSF2024 #WasteManagement #WasteHandling #ZeroWaste #ASEAN #Germany

­From Production to Post-Consumer: The Lifecycle of PVC in Indonesia By Rahim Marzuki In Indonesia, PVC plays a crucial role in sectors such as construction, healthcare, and consumer goods. The production of PVC process is usually divided into two processes, namely the production of PVC resin and the manufacturing of PVC products. The first process in the production of PVC resin is Ethylene (C2H4) and chlorine gas production. Ethylene is produced from the process of decomposing molecules through what is known as cracking. The resultant PVC resin serves as a raw material for the subsequent production of PVC products.   Subsequently, PVC resin will be transformed into diverse product applications by PVC manufacturers or converters. A compound is processed by the appropriate method to make a PVC product (e.g., sheet, film, pipe, etc). Some of the products are fabricated into secondary products by further processing (e.g., moldings thermoformed from sheets and wall coverings made by laminating calendared films). The PVC industry in Indonesia encompasses both import and export activities. The total quantity of PVC resin exported by Indonesia from 2014 to 2022 amounts to 1,943 Kilo Tons of PVC resin. Conversely, in terms of imports, the primary partner countries for PVC resin imports are Thailand, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia, with the aggregate import volume between 2014 and 2022 reaching 580 Kilo Tons of PVC.   The quantity of imported PVC products surpasses the quantity of exported PVC products annually. According to data from the Indonesian Statistics Agency, the amount of PVC products imported in 2022 reached 222 kilo tons, while the volume of exported PVC products amounted to only 5 kilo tons.   Post-consumer PVC waste management in Indonesia involves several methods. Mechanical recycliing emerges as the most endorsed approach for handling PVC post-consumer waste. Mechanical recycling allows PVC to be reused without altering its chemical composition, turning it into new products like pipes and containers. However, landfilling, particularly in Indonesia’s TPAs, remains a less sustainable option, as these facilities often use open dumping techniques. Second, healthcare-related PVC product wastes are incinerated with high-standard pollution control technology. This is to ensure the destruction of pathogens to minimize harmful emissions PVC wastes from medical sector. Additionally, some PVC products, such as pipes and cables used in construction, remain uncollectible as they are often buried underground or embedded in buildings. Meanwhile, "not collected" PVC waste, such as packaging and bottles, is often left unmanaged.   In conclusion, a comprehensive approach involving improvement of recycling technologies, sustainable disposal methods, and stronger waste management policies is necessary to address these challenges and reduce the environmental impact of PVC, promoting a more circular economy.

📣 Highlights from the PVC International Conference 2024! We are delighted to share the highlights from the PVC International Conference 2024, organized by the ASEAN Vinyl Council Association (AVC) and AVC Indonesia members, held on September 12 at the Mövenpick Hotel, Jakarta City Centre, Indonesia. Let’s take a look! The conference commenced with inspiring opening remarks from Mr. Eddy Sutanto, Chairman of ASEAN Vinyl Council Council setting a positive tone for the day. A special thank you to our esteemed speakers: Ms. Vinda Damayanti, Ms. Christine Halim, Mr. Hadiyan Fariz A., Dr. Melissa Skidmore, Dr. Manit Nithitanakul, Mr. Agung Nugroho, Prof. Dr. Ir. M Chalid, S.Si, M.Sc. Eng., Mr. Sarjuni Rahmat, Dr. Amir Razmjou, Mr. Teh Chin Yaw, MBA, Mr. Egi Erlangga, and Mr. Rifqi Hijri Saputro, whose insights and knowledge contributed greatly to the discussions. We are incredibly grateful for the big support from our partners, including Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan, PT Asahimas Chemical, PT Standard Toyo Polymer (STATOMER), PT. Sulfindo Adiusaha, PT. TPC Indo Plastic and Chemicals (SCG), Asosiasi Daur Ulang Plastik Indonesia (ADUPI), KIBUMI, CSIRO, จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย, Center for Sustainability and Waste Management Universitas Indonesia, PT. Wahana Duta Jaya Rucika, Edith Cowan University, Sun Ace Kakoh Pte Ltd, and PT Lautan Luas Tbk! A heartfelt thank you to all the speakers and participants who made this conference impactful and inspiring. Together, we are contributing to a more sustainable world! 📣 Join our LinkedIn community to stay updated on our projects and contributions to a sustainable future!🌱 #PVCInternationalConference2024 #AVC #Sustainability #ASEANVinylCouncil #WasteManagement #CircularEconomy #PVCRecycling #PPC #Chula

There is always this sense of extra joy, happiness and excitement when you and your team have finished in conducting a special event after a long time preparing it. This certainly has been the feeling after GIZ 3RproMar Indonesia team has just completed another important milestone to showcase our project’s progress and results in a year. This year’s National Stakeholder Forum was conducted in a partnership with Directorate of Waste Handling Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) to highlight Indonesia’s journey toward achieving the goal of Zero Waste & Zero Emission by 2050. We had a great line up of speakers from government agencies, private sector, start-ups and local NGOs presenting their thoughts in a “Ted-Talk” format. Kudos to all brilliant speakers and especially to my beloved team and colleagues of GIZ 3RproMar Indonesia. Off we go to continue our journey ahead with more exciting achievements! 👏👏 *tagging great people showed in these pictures: Ocasa Preditha Anandita Susanto Piyush Dhawan Riska Hasan Revina Indra Putri Anindhitya Sasti Ervyna Rizki Febrianny Angeline Callista Rendy Aditya Wachid .,B.Arch., MBA Hadiyan Fariz A. Swietenia Puspa Lestari KIBUMI Divers Clean Action #GIZ3RproMarIndonesia #GIZASEAN

PVC International Conference 2024 Highlight! ✨ We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported, attended, and contributed to the success of the PVC International Conference 2024. 🙌   Special thanks to our speakers Ms. Vinda Damayanti, Ms. Christine Halim & Mr. Hadiyan Fariz A., Dr. Melissa Skidmore, Dr. Manit Nithitanakul, Mr. Agung Nugroho, Prof. Dr. Ir. M Chalid, S.Si, M.Sc. Eng., Mr. Sarjuni Rahmat, Dr. Amir Razmjou, Mr. Teh Chin Yaw, MBA, Mr. Egi Erlangga, Mr. Rifqi Hijri Saputro.   Sincere appreciation for the policymakers, industries, practitioners, researchers, academics, recyclers, and associations who participated, both in-person and online. 🤝   Here’s to catalyzing the transition towards a circular economy in the PVC value chain for a greener future for all creations. 🌍♻️   We look forward to seeing you at our next event! 👏   #ASCareers #asahimaschemical #ASC #ASCAcademy #chemistryforablueplanet #PVCInternationalConference2024

PARONGPONG RAW LAB X KIBUMI X GIZ In collaboration with KIBUMI, Parongpong RAW Lab is initiating a Digital Return System (DRS) for beauty care packaging empties. Digital Return System (DRS) is a post-consumption packaging return program initiated by the Circular Consortium funded by BMZ (German Ministry of International Cooperation) and supported by GIZ Indonesia & ASEAN GmbH (3ProMar) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Therefore, the Digital Return System (DRS) comes as a solution to manage beauty empties more wisely. Friends can collect beauty empties and deposit them at drop points in Bandung. Parongpong RAW Lab, PT YAGI Natural Indonesia and Botanina Botanina are collaborating to reduce cosmetic waste into more valuable items. Every package that you return will be recycled or reused, thus reducing cosmetic waste from landfills. In addition, there are attractive prizes for everyone who participates in this Digital Return System activity. In addition, there will be attractive rewards for everyone who participates in this Digital Return System activity. Stay tuned and follow the hashtag #BalikIn for more information! #DigitalReturnSystem  #SustainableBeauty

We are welcoming two new members of Indonesia NPAP Communities! 🎉 KIBUMI is a digital startup that provides innovative solutions that connect waste pickers, junkshops, financial institutions, and the private sector to create a complete ecosystem and sustainable solutions for waste management. Kibumi seeks to transform the waste value chain by aggregating the informal waste sectors and capacity building. Joining Indonesia NPAP, KIBUMI contributes to the Innovation task force. World Clean-up Day Indonesia is an annual global social action that seeks to tackle the global solid waste problem, which includes marine debris. WCD activities include litter cleanup and waste mapping coordinated worldwide. Joining Indonesia NPAP, WCD contributes to the Metrics and Behavior Change task forces. We are optimistic that KIBUMI and World Clean-up Day Indonesia will significantly impact and help Indonesia reduce its plastic pollution.