INGENIEUR
PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad ( PCG )
The Malaysian Recycling Alliance ( MAREA )
• PCG is collaborating with Plastic Energy Ltd ( Plastic Energy ) to construct a facility that produces crude naphtha from plastic waste as a feedstock for polymer production . The plant will be located in Johor and will be the first in the Southeast .
• Collaboration with the Ministry of Education , Solid Water Corporation ( SWCorp ) and the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association ( MPMA ) to develop an educational module for primary and secondary school students on plastic waste management and the environment .
• The first alliance of its kind in the country comprises 10 key industry leaders in the fast-moving consumer goods sector in Malaysia made up of Coca-Cola Malaysia , Colgate-Palmolive Malaysia , Dutch Lady Milk Industries , Etika Group , Fraser & Neave Malaysia , Mondelēz International Malaysia , Nestlé Malaysia , Spritzer , Tetra Pak Malaysia , and Unilever Malaysia [ 14 ].
• MAREA aims to enable a voluntary , industry-led Extended Producer Responsibility ( EPR ) group of like-minded companies to focus on boosting the value chain and significantly improve the collection and recycling of post-consumer packaging .
• An incentive scheme will also be implemented via a pilot project where consumerpackaging waste , including polyethylene terephthalate bottles , used beverage cartons ; high-density polyethylene and flexible packaging will be collected and channelled to local recycling providers .
Hatta Dolmat • Hatta Dolmat has creatively recycled 200 plastic bottles into scarf and facemasks . The designer collaborated with Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre ( MGTC ) for the collection of plastic bottles . The imitative which is called MGTC X Hatta Dolmat , was launched on May 7 , 2021 [ 15 ].
Heng Hiap Industries Sdn Bhd
Malaysia Airlines , Firefly and MAG Sustainability Blueprint
Nestlé ( Malaysia ) Berhad
• One of a growing number of companies working with environmentalists to collect and remove plastic waste in the country ’ s waters . The pellets made by Heng Hiap are sold to companies such as Kian , a furniture maker [ 16 ].
• French multinational Capgemini SE is collaborating with Heng Hiap Industries Sdn Bhd to develop a mobile application to facilitate plastic recycling in three stages where it begins with consumers calling collectors for the collection of recyclable plastic waste from their homes . Collectors then accept the requests and have the ability to review the plastic haul and reward consumers with points . They receive their payment digitally via a digital wallet from Heng Hiap . The mobile app is expected to be launched in October 2022 .
• Heng Hiap is working with over 28,000 domestic plastic recyclers to buy and convert plastic scraps into high-performance resins before selling it to clients including major South Korean appliance manufacturers and Japanese automotive companies [ 17 ].
• Malaysia Airlines and Firefly have targeted 50 % of in-flight and ground waste to be recycled and up cycled by 2025 onwards . Both carriers also aim to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 as part of a newly launched sustainability blueprint by its parent company Malaysia Aviation Group ( MAG ). The MAG Sustainability Blueprint will also promote other green initiatives such as reducing overall carbon dioxide emission by 25 million kg in 2021 and reaching 50 % biodegradable materials usage for in-flight operations [ 18 ].
• Milo Sayang Bumi campaign – to reduce the production of plastic and promote the use of renewable energy sources .
• Milo UHT Paper Straw – an innovation to make packaged drinks more sustainable by replacing 100 % of plastic straws with paper straws for their products . It is estimated over 200 million plastic straws will be eliminated yearly .
• Projek CAREton - Used Beverage Cartons recycling campaign that transforms drink packs into ‘ green ’ roofing tiles and panel boards
• The Stik Pek X-Change Programme – plastic waste upcycled into handicraft goods through collaboration with local upcycling communities [ 19 ].
Table 2 : Examples of ‘ bottom-up ’ circular economy approaches in Malaysia
22 VOL 87 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2021