^{The final lineup of students who claimed the top prizes in the Grand Finale of Design for Plastics Circularity Challenge 2024.}



BANGI, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- The Design for Plastics Circularity Challenge 2024, a comprehensive competition designed to inspire university students to create sustainable and cutting-edge solutions in plastics circularity, concluded with a grand closing and prize-giving ceremony today. Held at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), the event celebrated the creativity, originality, and commitment to sustainability demonstrated by the finalists and winners from top universities across the country.
 
The challenge, which was launched on 14 June 2024, searched for ideas in three areas; innovative and sustainable plastics packaging, methods to reuse or recycle single-use plastics products and plastics waste management technologies. The challenge aimed to bridge the gap between academia and industry, providing students with insights into current industry needs, relevant policies, and the national plan for sustainability and circularity in the plastics industry. Additionally, the challenge received 70 ideas from higher education institutions nationwide such as Universiti Teknologi Mara (UITM), University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC), Institut Kemahiran Tinggi Belia Negara (IKTBN) Sepang and others, with potential for further development into breakthrough innovations that could directly benefit the industry.
 
Over the past five months, participants have engaged in a range of activities, beginning with the ‘Plastics Webinar: Think Outside of Plastics?’, where they explored tangible ideas and existing sustainable solutions. Following this, they took on the challenge of presenting video pitches to showcase their innovative ideas in greater depth. They were also given the unique opportunity to gain insights into plastics circularity during the Innovation Townhall and Mentorship Session, where they received valuable feedback and guidance from a diverse panel of stakeholders. These included representatives from the Government, such as the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), as well as industry leaders from companies like Dow, CPI KL Sdn Bhd, Stenta Films Sdn Bhd, Mondelez International, and Vinda Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Recyclers from Shye Guan Industries and Ecology Trade Sdn Bhd, along with community organisations such as Precious Plastics Malaysia and Fuze Ecoteer, also contributed in helping students understand the roles of various stakeholders in achieving plastics circularity.
 
In the final lead-up to the challenge, participants attended a ‘Youth Forum: Advancing Plastics Circularity Through Innovation’, where they explored the role of artificial intelligence and platforms like Digiwin in advancing sustainable practices. The challenge concluded with an exhibition day, where the finalists presented their inventions and prototypes before an esteemed panel of judges from leading organisations in the plastics industry.
 
“The creativity and determination displayed by the finalists have been nothing short of inspiring," said Dato’ Johnson Yoon, one of the judges and the Organising Chairman of the challenge, who is also the Chairman of Recycling Committee at the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA). “Having gone through the competition with all participants for the past five months, I have seen how their perspectives on plastics have developed holistically through activities and engagements with the Government, Brand Owners, NGOs and the industry, culminating into today’s display of impressive solutions.”
 
Winners of the Design for Plastics Circularity Challenge 2024 are as follows.
 
Champion:
SPECTRUM, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Presorting with Low-Cost DIY NIR Spectrometer
 
First Runner-up:
DIAPLASCO, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Environmentally Friendly Polyvinyl Alcohol/ Corn Silk Fiber for Dry Food Seasoning Packaging Applications
 
Second Runner-up:
DESLA, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Plastics waste management technologies
 
Consolation Prizes:
PET-SD, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Chemical Recycling of PET Plastic Waste using Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) as catalyst
 
PLASTIC4MICROBES, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UITM)
Development of Biodegradable Food Film Incorporated with Organic Acids
 
Aspiring Innovator Award:
PLASTIC GIRLS, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC)
Intergration of Sink-Float and Froth Flotation Techniques with A Centralized Database for Effective and Affordable Plastic Waste Management
 
“We are incredibly grateful to Dow, MPMA, and the entire organising team for making this event possible. We are passionate about our work, and from the ideas which we have presented, we are excited to demonstrate to the judges how our low-cost spectrometer prototype could significantly ease plastics recycling. This device can help identify plastics materials, making it useful not only for recycling companies but also for households to sort and segregate plastics at the source. This opportunity to showcase our invention to both the public and industry professionals has been invaluable. Special thanks to all the judges for their invaluable guidance during the Innovation Townhall and Mentorship Session. Their advice helped us secure a spot in the top 10 and ultimately achieve the honour of becoming the champion of this challenge,” said the team SPECTRUM from USM, reflecting on their journey in the challenge.

“We have witnessed strong and emerging innovation from the students participating in this first edition of the Design for Plastics Circularity Challenge in Southeast Asia. The enthusiasm and commitment shown by all participants highlight the impact of education and collaboration in driving positive change. We look forward to enabling more of such initiatives in the region to advance plastics circularity and inspire future leaders,” said Kodak Xiao, Senior Business Sustainability Director, Asia-Pacific, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics.
 
The Design for Plastics Circularity Challenge 2024 was organised by the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) in collaboration with Dow, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Initiated by Dow in Shanghai, China, this is the first edition of the competition in Southeast Asia. For more information, 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