To this day, waste remains a persistent problem in many countries around the world, including Indonesia. In fact, the country is considered to be one of the largest waste producers in the world, according to the World Bank's "The Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals 2023".
Household waste is the most dominant type of waste in Indonesia, accounting for as much as 48%. The problem is further complicated by the fact that this waste is often dumped in landfills by dump trucks.
Sadly, there has been a significant increase in the amount of plastic waste, including snack food packaging, detergent soap, plastic cups, and more. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years has also led to an increase in the production of mask waste, creating a new environmental challenge.
In response to this challenge, an Indonesian company, PT Gaia Plastik Recycling (ëCollabo8), was established with a focus on recycling plastic waste to reduce the amount of waste that ultimately ends up in landfills. Its founder, Kevin Vignier-Groiez, established the company out of concern for the environment. In 2019, he established this company in Tumbak Bayuh, Mengwi District, Badung Regency, Bali, with the main mission of introducing a new perspective on the potential of turning plastic waste into valuable products.
ëCollabo8 also has the ability to recycle glass, bag packaging, various types of plastic waste, and various other materials, thus optimizing waste management and preventing it from ending up in landfills.
One of the company's outstanding technologies is extrusion molding, which is widely used in the production of outdoor furniture. The products resulting from this technology are said to be more resistant to extreme weather conditions, stronger and require less maintenance than wood-based products. With this technology, ëCollabo8 can even produce up to 30,000 molded products per month and process tens of thousands of kilograms of plastic waste per month.
Some examples of products produced by ëCollabo8 are countertops, gym lockers, sofas, chairs, tables, wall tiles, murals, trackpads, coasters, product stands, and the like. The recycling of waste results in different types of products that vary according to customer demand.
ëCollabo8 not only operates within the country but has also explored several collaborations with international brands interested in purchasing recycled products produced by the company. The company has even shipped its products to European countries.
Interestingly, ëCollabo8 has also collaborated with Disney Indonesia to create a replica of Thor's hammer. In 2022, Disney Indonesia partnered with several local Indonesian artists to depict the character of Thor through collaborative art for the release of the movie "Thor: Love and Thunder." ëCollabo8 created Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, made from 20 kilograms of recycled waste.
The company serves as a representation that plastic waste can be transformed into valuable and artistically significant products. The innovation practiced by ëCollabo8 is undoubtedly a source of inspiration and has a positive impact on society as a whole.
