By the end of 2021, nearly 80% of the packaging being successfully returned and reused by Multi Bintang Indonesia.
Heaptalk, Jakarta — A beer brewing company Multi Bintang Indonesia has managed to recycle around 98% of waste in the production process. The company has also realized various sustainability initiatives related to waste management and processing in line with the company’s sustainability strategy as part of the Heineken Company, Brewing a Better World 2030.
Sustainability initiatives that have been carried out by Multi Bintang Indonesia include the installation of the fourth waste trap in Tangerang City collaborating with the Cisadane River Garbage Bank Foundation (Banksasuci) and the Cisadane DAS Water Alliance (AADC).
The company also implemented a waste bank program with We-Hasta in 293 locations spread across Mojokerto and Tangerang with more than 7,000 community members and 28,000 beneficiaries.
All those initiatives are the efforts of Multi Bintang Indonesia in applying circular economy principles to each of its operational activities by managing and reducing production emission waste. The company also maximizes the product cycle and gives a second life to the remaining by-products of the production process as stated in the company’s sustainability strategy.
The circular economy is a model that seeks to extend the life cycle of a product, raw materials, and existing resources so they can be used as long as possible. Circular economy principles include reducing waste and pollution, keeping products and materials consumed as long as possible, and regenerating natural systems.
Corporate Affairs Director at Multi Bintang Indonesia Ika Noviera delivered, “Walk the talk is not easy, especially in carrying out something that is considered unpopular but is actually necessary. For example, there are still many who do not realize that waste still has a valuable value.”
Ika admitted that to create impactful sustainability initiatives, her party needs to find partners with the same vision and goals. Regarding the matter, Multi Bintang Indonesia has designed and implemented a system for returning bottles, crates, and kegs through its business partners. By the end of 2021, nearly 80% of the packaging being successfully returned and reused.
Partnering with Rekosistem to provide beverage packaging return service
Further, to increase the scale of its beverage packaging return efforts, Multi Bintang Indonesia now provides direct return pathways for the public through collaboration with Rekosistem. This initiative is also aligned with the Bintang Together Wise movement as part of the company’s efforts to promote responsible consumption, both in consuming its products and in managing its packaging waste.
The collaboration between Multi Bintang Indonesia and Rekosistem offers reward points for people who deposit Bintang or Heineken beer bottles through the available Rekosistem drop points, which are worth Rp500 per bottle. The public only needs to download the Rekosistem application on their cellphones, then follow the instructions and include the promo code BijakBintang.
CEO and Co-Founder of Rekosystem Ernest Layman delivered, “Rekosistem presents the implementation of a sustainable ecosystem through waste management services, spanning waste collection, sorting, recycling, as we see that the problem of packaging waste is still a thorny problem in Indonesia and even continues to grow.” Ernest said that Rekosistem takes a more proactive approach to the community by partnering with Multi Bintang Indonesia as one of the means to deal with the challenges of packaging waste.
Communities can return packaging waste of Multi Bintang Indonesia products at all drop points belonging to Rekosistem, which are scattered in numerous strategic areas in Jabodetabek. Apart from glass bottles and beverage cans, consumers can also deposit other waste at the Rekosistem drop point, where the company offers reward points for certain types of waste.
Currently, Multi Bintang Indonesia and Rekosistem are also planning to expand the packaging return service system to reach more people through the retail channel. This initiative is expected to encourage good packaging waste management habits as well as trends in environmentally friendly lifestyles at multiple levels of society.
“We hope that the collaboration between Multi Bintang Indonesia and Rekosistem can be carried out in long term. By providing easy access for the community, we also expect to promote waste management habits and environmentally friendly lifestyle trends,” concluded Ernest.
