Chandra Asri Continues Its Asphalt Plastic Road Journey for Indonesia Asri, Targeting 100 KM in 2023

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta, 14 April 2022 – As a commitment to implementing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects, PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk (Chandra Asri) continues its circular economy program, Asphalt Plastic Road for Indonesia Asri, which is targeted to reach 100 km by 2023.

As of December 2021, the Company has implemented 50.8 km of plastic road across various locations in Indonesia in collaboration with its partner. The plastic road uses a total of 37.5 million pieces of plastic waste; or equal to 282 tons of waste that has been successfully managed from the landfill (TPA).

In its effort to achieve the Plastic Road target, in early 2022 Chandra Asri has collaborated with Garut Regency and the Bakti Barito Foundation to construct plastic roads in Garut until 2023. The plastic road implementation is 23 km long on 2022 that has been using 28.8 million pieces of plastic bag waste or the equivalent of managing up to 216.6 tons plastic waste from the landfill.

Edi Rivai, Director of Legal, External Affairs & Circular Economy Chandra Asri explained that the Asphalt Plastics Road for Indonesia Asri is one of Chandra Asri’s ESG implementation through circular economy program to contribute to a cleaner environment.

“This program was made possible through a solid collaboration and participation of various stakeholders in dealing with waste problem, especially plastic waste. Initiating positive partnerships for Asphalt Plastic Road is one of our participation as a market leader in implementing circular economy. As a Growth Partner, this asphalt plastic road program is an effort to create added value in consistent and sustainable plastic waste management. Based on our experience, the key to success in the plastic recycling ecosystem starts from the mindset and behavior change to collect segregated waste from its sources so that it can create a low-cost and high-quality production," said Edi.

The Asphalt Plastic Road Program for Indonesia Asri has been implemented at 50.8 km of road located in various regions in collaboration with various partners. While plastic road in cities such as Cilegon, Tegal, and Semarang was built in a collaboration with the local administration, the other plastic road projects were constructed in a partnership with educational institutions such as the University of Indonesia in Depok and Dian Nuswantoro University in Semarang.

In 2021, the Company also join forces with private parties, namely PT Djarum and Sinar Mas Land to roll out the plastic road program. The plastic waste for this program is provided by associate partners; one of them is the Indonesian Plastic Recycling Association (ADUPI).

In addition to the Asphalt Plastics Road initiative for Indonesia Asri, Chandra Asri has also carried out myriad initiatives in the circular economy. In 2021, Chandra Asri inaugurated the Integrated Waste Management Industry – IPST ASARI in Cilegon, which managed jointly with the local community.

We also encourage the collection of plastic waste in the sea by fishermen and household waste by local community in the Anyer area, Serang through SAGARA program. The collected plastic waste is then converted into savings for the local community and fuel for fishermen to run their boats.

Chandra Asri also supports the Jakarta Recycle Center (JRC) program, a program by DKI Jakarta Provincial Environmental Service at Pesanggrahan, Jakarta, in educating residents of targeted program, provide segregated plastic waste bags, organic waste shredding machines, and other facilities.

This program has shown its impact on reducing up to 80% waste that ends up at the Bantargebang TPA in the area that is directly intervened by Chandra Asri. Through the circular economy program in 2021, Chandra Asri has contributed to managing more than 167 tons of plastic waste.

This waste management effort also continues in 2022 with the Plastic to Food program in Tangerang, in collaboration with Sinar Mas Land. Through this program, the community is encouraged to sort and collect plastic waste at home to be exchanged for rice bag.

The asphalt plastic initiative is also one of Chandra Asri's efforts in fulfilling the environmental, social and governance (ESG) approach which is used to underline the Company's activities. In addition to implementing a circular economy, Chandra Asri has switched to electric forklifts and the use of solar panels for more environmentally friendly operations.

We also invest in green manufacturing by developing smokeless flare technology or Enclosed Ground Flares to minimize the social and environmental impacts of operational activities. The goal is to keep a beautiful Indonesia in the future.