Celebrating its 64th Anniversary, Astra Successfully Reduces 420 Tonnes of Plastic Waste

Celebrating its 64th Anniversary, Astra Successfully Reduces 420 Tonnes of Plastic Waste

JAKARTA: Commemorating its 64^th Anniversary, Astra called the public and its employees to spread the Spirit of Advancing Together (Semangat Melaju Bersama) to inspire the community and make a contribution to the nation.

The Reduce Plastic Movement (Semangat Kurangi Plastik) is one of the many ways Astra Group inspires and involves the community. This movement originated from Astra Group employees’ concern about the problems caused by plastic waste.

“The theme of Astra’s 64th Anniversary illustrates an invitation to the public and all Astra employees to stand tall and start moving to achieve their dreams and hopes, as well as to inspire the community and contribute to the nation,” said Chief of Corporate Affairs Astra Riza Deliansyah, today (24/2).

The Reduce Plastic Movement is implemented by reducing single-use plastics, raising awareness of the dangers of plastic waste pollution, and providing education on how to process plastic waste effectively.

Since this movement was launched in February 2020, Astra Group had successfully reduced 420 tonnes of plastic waste by February 2021. Astra Group itself reduced 60 tonnes of plastic waste, while 86 Astra’s fostered waste banks throughout Indonesia managed the remaining 360 tonnes.

Astra processes its plastic waste by carrying out the 6R program: refine, reduce, reuse, recycle, recovery, and retrieve to energy, which generates not only handicrafts but also fuel.

With the Reduce Plastic Movement, Astra Group companies and foundations encourage community participation in reducing environmental pollution from plastic waste.

Innovation from KBA Pekayon

Inspiration for the community is also shown by Kampung Berseri Astra (KBA) Pekayon, South Bekasi. They motivate people to be aware of the importance of reducing single-use plastic waste to preserve the environment.

“It is challenging to get 754 KBA residents to reduce the use of single-use plastic. It takes a long process to change old habits into new habits,” Lala Ratna Gozali said. She is the figure behind KBA Pekayon.

Various actions are taken to reduce the single-use plastic waste in KBA Pekayon. One of them is the recently launched program called Movement to Reduce Market Plastics (Gerakan Mengurangi Plastik Pasar/Gempar).

The program visits traditional markets and mobile vegetable vendors around KBA Pekayon and advises them to avoid providing single-use plastic bags.

KBA Pekayon also has a waste bank program to encourage residents to understand how to sort waste. The residents have collected 570kg of single-use plastic waste to date. They have also created a program that utilizes used cooking oil as a primary ingredient for organic soap.

“Even though I have been part of the KBA network for six years, the environment is still the main concern of fellow activists here and for myself,” said Lala, who has consistently sparked environmental awareness for 18 years.

Through the Reduce Plastic movement, these programs are expected to reduce single-use plastic waste in Indonesia and encourage people to care more about the surrounding environment.

This movement will continue. Efforts to preserve our environment and nature for a better quality of life will persist, in line with Astra’s mission to prosper with the nation.

For further information, please contact:

Boy Kelana Soebroto
Head of Corporate Communications
PT Astra International Tbk
Ph.021-508-43-888

About Astra
PT Astra International Tbk was established in 1957 in Jakarta as a general trading company under the name Astra International Inc. In 1990, for the purpose of the company’s initial public offering (IPO), the name of the company changed to PT Astra International Tbk, followed by listing its shares on the Indonesia Stock Exchange under the ticker code ASII.

Astra has developed its business by implementing a business model based on synergies and diversification within seven business divisions: 1) Automotive, 2) Financial Services, 3) Heavy Equipment, Mining, Construction & Energy, 4) Agribusiness, 5) Infrastructure and Logistics, 6) Information Technology and 7) Property.

Astra Group conducts business operations in all parts of Indonesia under the management of more than 238 companies, including subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, and was supported by more than 187,000 employees, as of December 2020.

As one of the largest national business groups in Indonesia today, Astra has built a strong reputation through offering a range of quality products and services, taking into account the implementation of good corporate and environmental governance. Astra always aspires to be the pride of the nation that participates in efforts to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people.

Astra's business activities strive to apply a balanced mix in the commercial aspects of business and non-business contributions through 9 foundations and a variety of sustainable social responsibility programmes, namely Astra Untuk Indonesia Sehat, Astra Untuk Indonesia Cerdas, Astra Untuk Indonesia Hijau and Astra Untuk Indonesia Kreatif.

Astra initiated the Semangat Astra Terpadu Untuk (SATU) Indonesia Awards programme, which has entered its eleventh year, and has given recognition awards to 397 young Indonesians, consisting of 70 national level recipients and 327 provincial level recipients in the fields of Health, Education, the Environment, Entrepreneurship and Technology, which are integrated with Astra’s wide range of community activities through 116 Kampung Berseri Astra and 755 Desa Sejahtera Astra initiatives in 34 provinces throughout Indonesia.

For further information, please visit www.astra.co.id & www.satu-indonesia.com, and follow Astra through Instagram (@satu_Indonesia), Youtube (SATU Indonesia), Facebook (Semangat Astra Terpadu) and Twitter (@satu_Indonesia).