The Rector of Universitas Indonesia (UI), Prof. Ari Kuncoro, S.E., M.A., Ph.D., inaugurated Prof. Dr. Ir. Mochamad Chalid, S.Si., M. Eng. as a Permanent Professor in Polymer Technology, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (DTMM), Faculty of Engineering (FT) Universitas Indonesia (UI), on Wednesday (20/9), at the UI Conference Hall, Depok Campus. The inauguration was held after Prof. Chalid delivered his scientific oration entitled “Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainability of Plastic Products in Indonesia”.
In his speech, Prof. Chalid mentioned that there has been 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 selling value and benefits.
According to him, the accumulation of plastic waste is caused by people’s habit of using packaging. In the past, people used leaves, wood and even animal skins as natural packaging. Because these packaging materials have limited use, product design development was carried out by making paper packaging (bags) made from wood. Although biodegradable, the production of paper packaging increased in line with the population explosion, which resulted in bio-conservation issues.
Finally, in 1959, the problem was solved with the invention of lightweight and reusable plastic bag packaging. This oil and gas-based plastic packaging is produced with lower water and manufacturing energy requirements compared to paper. Unfortunately, due to a user culture that is still similar to 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, it means that plastic waste must be reused and or recycled,” said Prof. Chalid.
He said that to answer these challenges, an integrative and sustainable solution is needed. The involvement of economic aspects is a key element in the sustainability of returning plastic waste to its material cycle, known as the circular economy principle. This principle implies community empowerment, education, technology, business, economy, and regulation as key factors. Therefore, the effort to shift the paradigm from linear economy to circular economy is a necessity.
The circular economy principle implies community involvement supported by social organizations (NGOs) in the collection and sorting of plastic waste as commodities, and recycling entrepreneurs in an ecosystem. The sustainability of this principle is carried out through the involvement of plastic product manufacturers in the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program in which the management of waste recycling of their products is carried out by recyclers with the support of the community. The ecosystem must be guaranteed by the Central / Regional Government as the policyholder and controller.
The government is also expected to take important and strategic steps, for example by providing fiscal incentives through the exemption of plastic excise and the implementation of tax allowances, as applied to other packaging products. This policy will provide impetus for the sustainability of the plastic recycling ecosystem in Indonesia, which will lead to a reduction in waste downstream, even upstream.
In addition, the sustainability of plastic waste management requires a Waste Management Study Center that 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 the sustainability of 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 the prevention and handling of plastic waste.
Prof. Dr. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU, met at the inauguration ceremony said, “Prof. Chalid’s study on the challenges and opportunities for the sustainability of plastic products in Indonesia is a very important step in dealing with increasingly urgent environmental issues. In his speech, he brilliantly outlined the complexity of plastic problems in Indonesia and identified solutions that can lead to more sustainable plastic management. Hopefully, in the future, Prof. Chalid’s research can become an important foundation in finding sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by our country related to plastic products.”
Research related to plastic waste management is one of the many studies conducted by Prof. Chalid. Some of his research include Rheological and Self-Healing Behavior of Hydrogels Synthesized from l-Lysine-Functionalized Alginate Dialdehyde (2023); the 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 bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) UI in 1996; master’s degree in Polymer Engineering, Technische Universiteit Delft (TU-Delft), The Netherlands in 2001; doctoral degree in Polymer Product Technology, Rijk Universiteit Groningen (RUG), The 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 Panel; Editorial Advisory Board Makara Journal of Technology-UI; and Ka-Lab Material Chemistry, DTMM FTUI.
Prof. Chalid’s inauguration ceremony was also attended by the Head of Nanotechnology and Materials Research Organization, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Prof. Dr. Ratno Nuryadi; Professor of North Sumatra University, Prof. Basuki Wirjosentono, M.S., Ph.D.; Deputy of Processed Food Supervision, Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), Dra. Rita Endang, Apt, M.Kes.; Chairman, Indonesian Olefin, Aromatic and Plastics 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 PresisiTeknikatama Industri, Petrus Tedja Hapsoro; Core Committee of the National Association of Bottled Water Producers, Idham Arsyad; Representative of the Indonesian Plastic Recycling Association (ADUPI) & Indonesian Circular Economy Alliance (AESI), Sharon Rose; Business Owner of Ligo Group, Nicholas Lie; and Marketing & Sales Director of PT Polytama Propindo, Ferry Tanumihardja.
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Public Communication Bureau
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia