Amandina enables environmental sustainability with plastic recycling initiative

It has launched the Recycled PET Close Loops Value Chain project to transform waste into bottles safe for packaging.

Despite its environmental impact, plastic has become a need for most people in the world. The interest in utilising this material in the food and beverage packaging industry continuously and sharply increases, considering that plastic packaging is easy to produce.

However, compared to other types, plastic waste is a type of inorganic waste that takes a long time to decompose, around 20 to 500 years. If they are not decomposing properly, they produce small bacteria, microplastics, chemical compounds, and heavy metals that are dangerous, toxic, and can pollute the soil. If it ends up in the sea, the plastic waste can also harm the ecosystem there.

A report from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry shows that the total national waste in 2021 reached 68.5 million tons and around 11.6 million tons, or 17% of that total, is plastic waste.

In order to address this, PT Amandina Bumi Nusantara (Amandina) lives by the principle of recycling and has carried out the Recycled PET Close Loops Value Chain project. It focusses on recycling plastic bottle waste into a bottle safe to use for packaging.

It obtains raw materials that are otherwise left behind in the environment, turning them into the best recycled PET (rPET) to make plastic bottles. Amandina collaborates with micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) spread out in Indonesia, which act as collection centres, to collect plastic bottle waste and supply it to them.

At the same time, the company is assisted by non-profit organisation Mahija Parahita Nusantara Foundation (Mahija) to ensure the feedstock to Amandina and to help the communities.

Amandina uses advanced high-technology machines in the production process, designed and built according to International standards and regulation compliance in Asia, Europe, the United States, and other countries. The production process has three main facilities—sorting, grinding & washing, and pelletising & sterilisation—that ensure all products are processed according to these standards and are safe to be used for food and beverage packaging whilst achieving yields of up to 85%.

The whole process between these facilities only takes 12 hours on average. In the past year, the company has succeeded in producing 25,000 tonnes of rPET resin from bottle waste. Reportedly, it has reduced 43,750 tonnes of CO2. To guarantee the quality of the products it produces and meet customers' needs, Amandina has also obtained several local and international certifications.

Its Recycled PET Close Loops Value Chain project has reduced carbon footprint and plastic waste and has also supported producers to have 50% rPET content in their product portfolio by 2028.

Amandina’s efforts in properly managing plastic waste and lessening environmental pollution have been distinguished, with the company clinching the Indonesia Technology Excellence Award 2024 in the ESG Tech - Environmental Services category.

Now in its fourth edition, the Asian Technology Excellence Awards is the region’s premier awards programme that celebrates top technological innovators and solutions that are redefining industries and leading the charge in digital transformation.

The Asian Technology Excellence Awards is presented by Asian Business Review. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's outstanding retail initiatives, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].