Call for the ‘New Again’ Campaign, Le Minerale Creates Vests from Recycled PET and Distributes them for Free to Street Vendors

Kapanlagi.com - Tackling plastic waste is not an easy task. However, it is not impossible to achieve as long as there is commitment and cooperation from various parties. These two factors are believed to be the key solutions to creating a greener, more sustainable, and less plastic waste planet. In line with this issue, Le Minerale also does not want to stand idly by and continues to strive to make the earth a better place.

Under the National Circular Economy Movement (GESN), Le Minerale continues its commitment to plastic waste management by extending the life cycle of plastic, commonly known as circular. This effort is carried out from upstream to downstream to achieve significant impact.

Le Minerale even echoes the #JadiBaruLagi campaign, a comprehensive real step that goes beyond education and collecting PET plastic bottles or packaging waste from consumption, but also collaborating with various parties to turn them into new products, including vests worn by thousands of street vendors.

Free Vests for Street Vendors

On World Environment Day on June 5, Le Minerale launched vests made from recycled plastic bottles and distributed them for free to a number of street vendors, including those in the Tomang area of West Jakarta on Monday (5/6).

"The vests for Le Minerale street vendors are a real step, where we use Recycled PET (RPET) as the raw material. Through this program, we also directly invite the public to take small steps to choose and sort plastic waste, so that it is no longer waste but can be recycled and #JadiBaruLagi," said Yuna Eka Kristina, Head of Public Relations and Digital Le Minerale.

Improving Performance in Implementing GESN Program

Le Minerale's innovation will never stop, especially in realizing the implementation of the GESN program that has been running for more than two years. For information, GESN is a concrete form of implementing the mission and commitment to environmental preservation, especially in reducing waste. This commitment is in line with the mission set by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to reduce waste by 30% by 2030.

During its journey in 2022, Le Minerale's GESN has shown an increase in performance in terms of collecting and withdrawing PET plastic waste or growth collection, which is 101% compared to 2021. Until 2023, GESN has managed to collect at least 859 tons of waste every month.

With this effort, Le Minerale will continue to strive and commit to recycling post-consumption PET plastic bottles.

"We will continue to partner with many parties to manage and recycle post-consumption PET plastic packaging waste and turn it into new raw materials and even new products," said Yuna again.

Appreciation from Street Vendors

Wahyudi (45), one of the street vendors who received the free vests, felt grateful because it was very useful for his business.

"Thank God, thank you, I didn't expect that this vest was made from the PET bottles that I sell every day. It makes me feel relieved, knowing that these plastic bottles will not become waste but can become comfortable vests and even other items," he said.

In addition to Wahyudi, Rusli Rukmana, who has the same profession, also expressed his appreciation for the program and invited the public to manage plastic waste properly.

"After drinking, the most important thing is not to throw away the bottle carelessly. I have seen a special plastic waste bin. If this bottle is thrown there, it can be recycled and become a new product, such as the cool vest I received today," he concluded.

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(kpl/glo)