According to the company’s website press release on February 21, 2023, as a company that plays an active role in implementing a circular economy as part of its commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) values, PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk (Chandra Asri) pays great attention to the problem of waste in Indonesia, especially for low-value plastic waste. This is because low-value plastic waste, such as used-plastic bags, is often not appropriately managed due to its lightweight characteristic and is considered to have no significant economic value. The lack of low-value plastic waste management has prompted Chandra Asri to initiate a multi-stakeholder partnership through collaboration to utilize low-value plastic waste as an asphalt mixture.
Seizing the momentum of Indonesia's National Waste Awareness Day (HPSN), Chandra Asri collaborates with the Indonesian Plastic Recycling Association (ADUPI) and the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office (PUPR) of Garut Regency to hold a discussion regarding Utilization of Low-Value Plastic Waste for Sustainable Infrastructure. Keynote speakers for this agenda are the Secretary of PUPR Office Garut Regency, Asep Oo Kosasih, Deputy Chairperson of Adupi, Justin Wiganda, and Director of Legal, External Affairs, and Circular Economy Chandra Asri, Edi Rivai. This topic is in line with the circular economy initiative implemented by Chandra Asri and partners to address issues related to the 2023 National Waste Awareness Day theme, namely, "Complete Waste Management for Community Welfare."
In the discussion, the speakers discussed the use of plastic bag waste, classified as a low-value material that can reprocess through the circular economy concept to become Plastic Asphalt. As a raw material for asphalt mixture with certain specifications, the economic value of low-value plastic waste can be increased to a high value since it can be sold at a higher price. One of the essential steps in implementing asphalt with a mixture of low-value plastic waste is collaboration and the active role of multi parties to make it happen.
Director of Legal, External Affairs, and Circular Economy Chandra Asri, Edi Rivai, said, "Through the momentum of this National Waste Awareness Day, we want to reemphasize the importance of multistakeholder collaboration to solve waste problems in Indonesia. Together with our partners, we continue to strive to build the best supply chain to support the implementation of the Plastic Asphalt program as one of our circular economy initiatives. This Plastic Asphalt program is also our medium to provide value and encourage the management of low-value plastic waste while helping the Government and related stakeholders in providing sustainable infrastructure for the community".
Using low-value plastic waste for roads has also been carried out in several big cities in Indonesia. Based on research from the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), adding low-value plastic waste is proven to increase road stability by up to 40%. One area that has successfully Plastic Asphalt roads is Garut Regency. Collaborating with Chandra Asri and the Bakti Barito Foundation, the Garut Regency Government is committed to implementing a 50 km Plastic Asphalt road from 2022 to 2023.
Secretary of Garut Regency PUPR Office, Asep Oo Kosasih, said, "We welcome the synergy between the Government and partners in the private sector to jointly create solutions to solve waste problems while building a capable infrastructure. This Plastic Asphalt program can increase the efficiency of the maintenance budget because road stability increases by up to 40% so that roads do not crack easily and can be used longer than conventional ones. This is in line with Garut's mission to realize equitable distribution of development as well as the stability of infrastructure according to the carrying capacity and function of space to be able to accelerate economic, social, and cultural acceleration".
The implementation of the Plastic Asphalt program is inseparable from the role of the recycling industry, which manages garbage from waste pickers and aggregators. In carrying out the Plastic Asphalt program, Chandra Asri and its partners are supported by associate partners, one of which is ADUPI, which provides a supply of raw materials for plastic waste as an asphalt mixture.
Deputy Chairman of ADUPI, Justin Wiganda, said "We see great potential from low-value plastic like the used plastic bag, one of which is by being used as raw material for asphalt mixture to be applied in road infrastructure as a form of circular economy. Utilizing low-value plastic waste can also increase the amount of plastic recycled raw materials collected, increase the economic value of plastic waste from lowvalue to high-value and help provide more income for aggregator and other informal sector workers, as well as encouraging the growth of the national Recycling Industry ".
Justin continues that ADUPI is ready to collaborate with other stakeholders to deal with waste problems, especially plastic waste. Together with the Government, ADUPI has also developed plastic recycling raw material standards and made a significant contribution to accelerating the implementation of a circular economy in the plastics sector in Indonesia.
Chandra Asri first used Plastic Asphalt for roads at its plant in 2018 by collaborating with ADUPI members to fulfill the raw materials for chopped plastic. Since then, Chandra Asri has been proactive in working with the Government, business partners, and other stakeholders to continue the Plastic Asphalt program for Indonesia Asri. Until 2022, Chandra Asri and partners have implemented 78.3 km of Plastic Asphalt roads by managing more than 650 tons of plastic waste from landfill.
About Chandra
Asri Chandra Asri Petrochemical is Indonesia’s largest integrated petrochemical company producing olefins and polyolefins. With a history of 30 years and over 2000 dedicated staff, the company incorporates stateof-theart technologies and supporting facilities located strategically in the country’s petrochemical hub, Cilegon and Serang. As a Growth Partner, Chandra Asri is committed on creating high-value jobs, expanding the domestic petrochemical value chain, and serving the needs of the vibrant and growing Indonesian market. For more information, visit: www.chandra-asri.com.
For more information, please contact:
Chandra Asri
Suryandi
Director of HR & Corporate Affairs
Telp : 021-530 5790
Email : suryandi@capcx.com
Chrysanthi Tarigan
Head of Corporate Communications
Telp : 021-530 7950
Email : corporate.comm@capcx.com
About ADUPI
ADUPI was founded in 2015, registered as a non-profit organization with more than 500 registered members forming the largest plastic recycling chain ecosystem in Indonesia from upstream to downstream, starting from collectors groups, and waste banks to the recycling industry itself, including academics and active plastic recycling practitioners in Indonesia. For more information, visit www.adupi.org.
For more information, please contact:
ADUPI Secretariat
Telp: 021-59599201 / 08111884482 Email: admin@adupi.org
