Rector of the Universitas Indonesia (UI), Prof. Ari Kuncoro, S.E., M.A., Ph.D., inaugurated Prof. Dr. Ir. Mochamad Chalid, S.Si., M. Eng. as Permanent Professor in the field of Polymer Technology, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (DTMM), Faculty of Engineering (FT) Universitas Indonesia (UI), on Wednesday (20/9), at the UI Convention Hall, Depok Campus. This inauguration was carried out after Prof. Chalid delivered his scientific oration entitled “Challenges and Opportunities for the Sustainability of Plastic Products in Indonesia”.
In his speech, Prof. Chalid said that there was an increase in the amount of plastic consumption in Indonesia. Indonesia’s per capita plastic consumption increased from 19.8 kg/person/year in 2017 to 22.5 kg/person/year in 2022. This figure is still relatively small compared to Germany which reached 95.8 kg/person/year. However, Indonesia is still unable to manage plastic waste into products that have sales value and benefits.
According to him, the accumulation of plastic waste is caused by people’s habits which have not been separated from their packaging usage patterns. In the past, people used leaves, wood, and even animal skins as natural packaging. Because this packaging material has limited uses, product design development was carried out by making paper packaging (bags) made from wood. Even though it can decompose in nature, paper packaging production is increasing in line with the population explosion which has an impact on natural bio-conservation issues.
Finally, in 1959, this problem was solved by the discovery of plastic bags that were light and reusable. Plastic packaging made from oil and natural gas is produced with lower water and manufacturing energy requirements compared to paper. Unfortunately, due to user culture that is still the same as the pattern of using natural packaging products, society is now faced with the problem of piles of plastic waste.
“Our current challenge is to change the perspective or paradigm of consumers and all related parties that when we switch to plastic packaging, this means that plastic waste must be reused and/or recycled,” said Prof. Chalid.
He said that to answer these challenges, integrative and sustainable solutions are needed. The involvement of economic aspects is a key element in the sustainability of returning plastic waste to its material cycle, which is known as the principle of a circular economy. This principle implies community empowerment, education, technology, business, economics and regulation as key factors. Therefore, efforts to shift the paradigm from a linear economy to a circular economy are a must.
Circular economy principles imply community involvement supported by social organizations (NGOs) in the collection and sorting of plastic waste as a commodity, and recycling entrepreneurs in an ecosystem. The sustainability of this principle is carried out through the involvement of plastic product producers in the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program where the management of product waste recycling is carried out by recyclers with the support of the community. The sustainability of this ecosystem must be guaranteed by the Central/Regional Government as the policy holder and controller.
The government is also expected to take important and strategic steps, for example by providing fiscal incentives through exemption from plastic excise and the implementation of tax allowances, as applied to other packaging products. This policy will provide encouragement for the sustainability of the plastic recycling ecosystem in Indonesia, which will lead to a reduction in waste downstream and even upstream.
Apart from that, sustainable plastic waste management requires a Waste Management Study Center which involves academics and researchers as developers, as well as NGOs, producer associations, recycling actors, and the government as implementers and evaluators. One of the key elements in sustainable plastic waste management is appropriate technology that is adaptive to Indonesia’s economic, social, and cultural life. Polymer product technology has enormous opportunities that are oriented towards preventing and handling plastic waste.
This research related to plastic waste management is one of many studies conducted by Prof. Chalid. Some of his research includes Rheological and Self-Healing Behavior of Hydrogels Synthesized from l-Lysine-Functionalized Alginate Dialdehyde (2023); Effect of PEG Incorporation on Physico-chemical and in vitro Degradation of PLLA/PDLLA Blends: Application in Biodegradable Implants (2023); and Novel In Situ Modification for Thermoplastic Starch Preparation based on Arenga Pinnata Palm Starch (2022).
Prof. Dr. Ir. Mochamad Chalid, S.Si., M. Eng. completed his BA in Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) UI in 1996; Masters in Polymer Engineering, Technische Universiteit Delft (TU-Delft), Netherlands in 2001; Doctorate in Polymer Product Technology, Rijk Universiteit Groningen (RUG), Netherlands in 2012; and Professional Engineer Program, FTUI in 2023. Currently, he serves as Head of the Center for Sustainability & Waste Management (CSWM)–UI; RPL–FTUI Professional Engineer Program Assessment Council; Editorial Advisory Board Makara Journal of Technology–UI; and Head of Materials Chemistry Lab, DTMM FTUI.
The inauguration procession of professor Prof. Chalid was also attended by the Head of the Nanotechnology and Materials Research Organization, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Prof. Dr. Ratno Nuryadi; Professor at the University of North Sumatra, Prof. Basuki Wirjosentono, M.S., Ph.D.; Deputy for Processed Food Supervision, Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), Dra. Rita Endang, Apt., M.Kes.; General Chair, Indonesian Olefin, Aromatic and Plastic Industry Association (Inaplas), Suhat Miyarso; President Director of PT Polytama Propindo, Didik Susilo; Corporate Sustainability Director, PT Tirta Fresindo Jaya, Ronald Atmadja; Director for Legal, External Affairs and Circular Economy, PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk., Edi Rivai; President Director, PT Yogya Presisi Teknikatama Industri, Petrus Tedja Hapsoro; Core Management of the National Bottled Water Manufacturers Association, Idham Arsyad; Representative of the Indonesian Plastic Recycling Association (ADUPI) & Indonesian Circular Economy Alliance (AESI), Sharon Rose; Ligo Group Business Owner, Nicholas Lie; and Marketing & Sales Director of PT Polytama Propindo, Ferry Tanumihardja.
