October 15, 2024

Trinseo Advocates for the Recyclability of Polystyrene in Indonesia

Industry Visits for the Management of Polystyrene

On September 13, 2024, Trinseo’s Let’s Do Recycling! Program (LDR!P) joined the Indonesia Plastic Recycling Association (ADUPI) and six ministries and institutions in Indonesia to better understand and evaluate the current state of polystyrene (PS) packaging, manufacturing, waste collection and recycling practices in Indonesia. The participants visited the PS Foam Industrial Center of PT Kemasan Ciptatama Sempurna (PT Kemasan), a PS foam packaging manufacturer, and a PS foam recycling plant operated by PT Aneka Indah Plastik in Pasuruan.

Officials participating included:

• Vinda Damayanti Ansjar, Director of Waste Reduction PSLB3 - Ministry of Environment & Forestry
• Emmy Suryandari, Director of Downstream Chemical Industry & Pharmaceutical IKTF, Ministry of Industry
• Nugroho Adi Sasongko, Head of the Center for Sustainable Production Systems Research and Life Cycle Assessment, National Research & Innovation Agency (BRIN)
• Deksa Presiana, Processed Food Standardization, Food & Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM)
• Adhitya Yusuf, Directorate of Environment - National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS)
• Gensly, Urban Policy Analyst - Ministry of Home Affairs

After the visit, Hanggara Sukandar, Senior Production Leader at Trinseo and Director of Environment & Sustainability Affairs, Responsible Care® Indonesia delivered a presentation titled “Safety and Environmental Considerations for Polystyrene Foam in Contact with Food”.

Focus Group, “Roadmap to Sustainability Towards a Responsible Polystyrene Industry and Supply Chain”

A focus group followed where more than 30 attendees discussed how to reduce, collect, and manage PS waste. After the discussion, the group had a much better understanding of how single-use plastics can be recycled and have a second life. The day’s event concluded with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony that supports “A Material Flow Study of Post-consumer PS in Indonesia”. The goal of the initiative is to present strong evidence, supported by data and science, on increasing waste collection rates and recycling activity of PS in the country to address environmental issues in partnership with the Indonesian government.

Trinseo Presents at ASEAN Recycling Summit 2024

Trinseo’s Dony Wahyudi, Southern Asia Sales Leader for Polystyrene, was invited to speak at the ASEAN Recycling Summit of the Indo Waste Recycling Expo & Forum 2024 in Jakarta on September 18, 2024. Wahyudi presented on the recycling of PS through depolymerization technology. Other speakers from the Indonesia Circular Economy Alliance also participated. Attendees included representatives from the Ministry of Environment & Forestry, National Development Planning Agency, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, the University of Indonesia, and others from within the industry. The session was well received.