Gresik, September 2024 - PT Garudafood Putra Putri Jaya Tbk (Garudafood), through the Gresik Business Unit, is managing post-consumer packaging waste through the 'Packaging Waste Dropbox' program. This initiative marks a collaboration with several public primary schools and Islamic primary schools (MI) in Gresik, East Java, to collect and recycle waste from Garudafood product packaging.
Since its launch at the end of August 2024, the program has successfully collected at least 2 kg of Garudafood packaging waste for the first time on Friday, 13 September, at UPT SDN 156 Gresik. The Garudafood Sehati Ambassador Team transports the collected waste to the packaging waste dropboxes, weighs it, and processes it into recycled products. Each item deposited in the dropbox is counted and recorded via a Barcode Scan. As a token of appreciation for students' contributions to maintaining environmental cleanliness, the top five students who collect the most significant volume of waste each month will be given prizes in the form of Garudafood product packages.
The purpose of providing the packaging waste drop box is to raise students' awareness about environmental conservation, particularly by educating them on sorting waste by type and adequately disposing of waste. This program has been positively welcomed by schools, which is evident in the enthusiastic support from principals, teachers, and students in collecting waste.
Through its Garudafood Sehati CSR Program, which focuses on environmental initiatives, Garudafood has taken the initiative to address post-consumer waste, especially in schools, which can potentially be large producers of plastic waste in society. This program is a continuation of the Sahabat Inspirasiku 4R (Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, and Return to Earth) program and aligns with the achievement of SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, particularly in relation to indicator 12.5.1(a) National recycling rate.
This initiative addresses the ongoing issue of plastic waste, which remains a significant environmental challenge. We hope this program will benefit various stakeholders and contribute to environmental conservation.