Closing the year of 2022, Collaborative Research Center for Zero Waste and Sustainability Extends Collaboration with PT. Lautan Luas Tbk in Jakarta, and Tofu Wastewater Treatment Facility in Sumedang

[04/01/2023]

 

Two fruitful visits have been conducted last December by the Collaborative Research Center for Zero Waste and Sustainability (CRC ZERO-WAS). On December 7, 2022, delegations from Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya (UKWMS) and National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) went to PT. Lautan Luas Tbk (LL), to initiate a collaboration between the two organizations. Tjintya Vagranty, the Head of Corporate Human Capital and Sustainability, mentioned that there are several issues encountered by the corporate, as the subsidiaries of LL generate waste required for treatment. During the meeting, both parties agree to work together to design a feasible system to maintain the sustainability of the process, and reduce the waste amount.

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The next week on December 11-14, 2022, 9 members of CRC ZERO-WAS from UKWMS and UKP visited BRIN office in Bandung, as a return visit, to strengthen the cooperation, and to plan several intensive joint research activities. During Focus Group Discussion (FGD), all members of CRC ZERO-WAS discussed the achievements that have been obtained at the end of the first year, e.g., the establishment of several joint researches and publications. The visitation results to LL as one potential partner for the center was also discussed at this meeting.

Following the mission in the first year, CRC ZERO-WAS prepared the second-year working plan, with the focus of (1) joint research and publications in the production of degradable composite materials from manufacturing waste; (2) cooperation initiation between CRC ZERO-WAS and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), (3) organizing two online seminars, scheduled on February and November 2023, (4) FGD with various partners, including the universities, industries, and the general public in September 2023, and (5) visitation of potential partners in July and August 2023 to support the research project and expand the impact of CRC ZERO-WAS.

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During the stay in Bandung, the members of CRC ZERO-WAS went to the Association of Giriharja Tofu Industries (KPTG), Sumedang, particularly to their wastewater treatment facility. The KPTG is a community of tofu producers, with a capacity of around 30 m3/day. KPTG has received a grant to install a simple waste-to-biogas plant since 2016. However, various barriers and technological limitations met by the operational team of KPTG, including the low public interest in biogas and the fluctuations in biogas production, have made this community a potential partner for CRC ZERO-WAS, as our research center may provide assistance through various approaches.