_{Photo caption: Close to 100 university students, lecturers and researchers attended the launch of the Design for Plastics Circularity Challenge 2024, organised by the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) in collaboration with Dow, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).}  
 

BANGI, June 18 (Bernama) -- The Design for Plastics Circularity Challenge 2024 was launched on 14 June 2024 at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) with the attendance of close to 100 university students and lecturers.
 
The Design for Plastics Circularity Challenge 2024 provides a platform for the younger generation to unleash their creativity in embracing a circular future. Organised by the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) in collaboration with Dow, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), the competition looks for ideas, research or innovations in three areas; innovative and sustainable plastics packaging, methods to reuse or recycle single-use plastics products and plastics waste management technologies.
 
“We are thrilled to be organising this competition in collaboration with Dow as a call to action to drive plastics circularity and potentially end plastics pollution. Plastics pollution knows no borders and we would all benefit from as many ideas as possible in accelerating a transition towards circular economy, in which plastics is kept in the loop for as long as possible”, said Datuk Noraini Soltan, MPMA’s Vice-President.
 
“Innovation and creativity serve as the engine for developing a world where plastics are designed to remain in the loop, and plastic waste is transformed into circular and renewable solutions. I am heartened that Dow can build on the success of the Design for Circularity Challenge which started in China and expand into Southeast Asia, starting with Malaysia,” said Mr. Kodak Xiao, Senior Business Sustainability Director, Asia Pacific, Packaging and Specialty Plastics, Dow.
 
“Driving systemic change cannot be achieved alone and requires robust public-private partnerships. Dow is delighted to be working with long-time partners, Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association, as well as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and  Universiti Sains Malaysia, to empower the next generation of innovators to build a circular future where plastics are kept in the loop and away from the environment,” said Mr. Yeoh Lian Kuan, Sales Director, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Packaging and Specialty Plastics, Dow.
 
Having the academia as co-organisers and programme partners brings added significance to the competition as ideas by undergraduates, postgraduates and researchers can be nurtured and further developed for potential uptake and adoption by the industry.
 
“This activity marks our commitment to creating a better future for plastics and its sustainability through knowledge and technology. This challenge not only contributes significantly to the advancement of plastics products but also opens up new opportunities for the next generation to embrace and create innovative ideas in the design of plastics-related innovations, with a focus on sustainability”, said Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Syuhaimi Ab Rahman, Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
 

The Design for Plastics Circularity Challenge 2024 runs from 14 June till 12 November 2024 and is open to all university students in Malaysia. A line up of engaging activities is planned including a Plastics Webinar, a Townhall and Mentorship Session, an online Youth Forum, and the Grand Finale – Exhibition & Awards Day. A total of RM19,500 cash prizes is up for grabs. For more information on the competition and registration, please visit https://mpma.org.my/sustainability/design-for-circularity-challenge-2024.

About Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) 

The Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA), established in 1967, is a progressive trade association providing leadership and quality service to its members and the plastics industry. MPMA is a non-profit organisation that serves as the official voice of the Malaysian plastics industry, representing its members and the industry in Government interaction, spearheading the plastics industry’s growth by providing the platforms to assist members to be globally competitive.
 
MPMA’s current emphasis, inter alia, is to upgrade the technological level of the plastics industry by providing higher technical skills for members, in particular, on Industry 4.0. In all aspects of its activities, MPMA places special attention to its social responsibility towards the environment, by promoting sustainability practices for the protection of the environment and the community.
 
MPMA currently has about 800 members, which represent about 60 percent of the plastics manufacturers in the country and account for 80 percent of the country’s total production of plastics products.
 
For more information on MPMA, visit http://mpma.org.my/.

SOURCE: Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Crystal Cheah 
Tel: 03 7876 3027
Email: crystal@mpma.org.my 

--BERNAMA