EPPIC Winners Innovation Ready to Overcome Plastic Waste Problems in West Nusa Tenggara

West Nusa Tenggara (12/07) – The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment is supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Indonesia under the Secretariat program of the National Coordinating Team for Handling Marine Debris (TKN PSL) and the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held an audience with the Vice Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Dr. Hj. Sitti Rohmi Djalilah and her staff at the NTB Governor’s Office on Tuesday (12/07). The event, which is part of the acceleration program for the 2021 Ending Plastic Pollution Innovation Challenge (EPPIC) competition winners, was also attended by Assistant I of the NTB Provincial Secretariat, the Head of the NTB Communications and Information Service, and the Head of the Waste Processing and Environmental Pollution Control Division of the NTB LHK Service.

The visit was also well received by the Vice Governor, “Very good! Continue these are great initiatives, we are very welcome. Thank you, I am delighted with these ideas, now it’s just a matter of implementation,” said the Vice Governor excitedly.

She also added that NTB has a lofty goal to solve plastic problems, so the implementation of the EPPIC 2021 program is a novel breakthrough to achieve NTB Net Zero Emission 2050.

“NTB has a high dream to achieve Net Zero Emission in 2050. We are a rich province, where there are biomass and biothermal. And indeed, we have been committed to tackle the plastic problem from the beginning. So, if there are good programs like this, let’s quickly actualize them,” she explained.

The 2021 EPPIC program is in line with the new breakthrough of the NTB Provincial Government to achieve Net Zero Emission in 2050 NTB Province. EPPIC is an ASEAN-level competition that invites all innovators to share bright ideas in dealing with plastic pollution. In this case, EPPIC seeks to reduce plastic pollution, especially in coastal areas, so that it can contribute to the achievement of SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption).

After going through three months of incubation, the four best teams were selected which won the initial project funding of US $ 72,000. Now, the winners of the EPPIC 2021 are undergoing a nine-month acceleration phase carried out by the UNDP Innovation Hub, in collaboration with investors and supported by the Environment and Forestry Office of West Nusa Tenggara Province.

In this audience opportunity, the winners of EPPIC in Indonesia, Siklus and Alterpacks were present and explained their innovations. They hope that their innovations will receive full support from the NTB Provincial Government to be implemented immediately.

“Siklus hopes to get support from the West Nusa Tenggara government, considering that the problem of plastic waste is an issue that needs handling and attention from many parties, especially the local government,” explained Laksamana Sakti, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Siklus.

Apart from Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi, Siklus has also expanded and operates in Mataram City. This start-up that provides refill delivery services for household products without plastic packaging also presents refill products and simulates products pouring from Siklus refill dispenser into smaller bottles/containers during the audience. With various refill products and affordable prices, Siklus hopes to reach all levels of Mataram society to change their habits and switch to refills to reduce the amount of plastic waste.

Not only Siklus, Alterpacks with its innovation in providing environmentally friendly food boxes made from coconut shell waste also hopes that the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government can support the establishment of the Alterpacks factory in the Lombok area which can also be used as a Center for Innovation in the implementation of the STEM education system (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) for the surrounding community. Previously, this Singaporean start-up also introduced environmentally friendly food boxes made from spent grains during the Motor Grand Prix event, which was held at the Mandalika International circuit last March.

“This food box produced by Alterpacks has the advantage of being able to accommodate gravy and oily food and is leak-proof, so that food delivery is safe in transit. In addition, this food box can also be reused after washing and is heat resistant, making it safe to put in the microwave. The takeaway food boxes have been certified by the FDA, United States of America, and SFA, Singapore, thus ensuring that direct contact with food is not harmful, and is safe for health,” explained Julie Lee, Project Manager, Alterpacks in Indonesia.

This audience is expected to accelerate the process of implementing the innovations of the EPPIC winners to prevent waste leakage in West Nusa Tenggara Province.