Support Environmental Sustainability, BRI Strengthens Waste Recycling And Emission Reduction Actions In Company Operations

JAKARTA - World Environment Day which is celebrated every June 5 is a reminder of the importance of preserving the earth. In 2025, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) carries the theme Ending Plastic Pollution as a global call to overcome the increasingly urgent plastic waste crisis.

Based on UNEP data, Indonesia is one of the largest contributors to plastic waste in the world with 3.2 million tons of waste that has not been optimally managed.

In supporting national efforts in overcoming waste problems, PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk or BRI continues to strengthen its commitment to environmental sustainability.

Through the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiative, BRI runs the Zero Waste to Landfill program as a concrete step in managing waste responsibly and encouraging environmentally friendly business practices.

Zero Waste to Landfill itself is a collaborative program from BRI designed to suppress waste deposits from their sources and ensure that waste does not end up in the Final Disposal Site (TPA) which is increasingly limited in capacity.

Meanwhile, throughout 2024, through this program, BRI has managed to manage a total of 703,559.9 kg of waste from operational activities, including 119,354.2 kg of which are in the form of plastic waste.

This effort also contributed to the avoidance of carbon emissions of 524.18 tons of CO2e, which had a direct impact on reducing the company's carbon footprint.

As part of strengthening the culture of sustainability internally, BRI also involves its workers in the practice of Zero Waste to Landfill through the provision of Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) machines.

Workers who deposit plastic bottle waste into this machine will get reward points that can be exchanged for various attractive prizes.

As of June 2025, RVM has collected more than 3,242 kg of plastic bottles, equivalent to 178,720 plastic bottles with an emission potential of 17,693 kg of CO2e, reflecting the high enthusiasm of BRI workers for this environmentally friendly initiative.

Outside of operational aspects, BRI is also actively supporting community-based waste management through various Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) programs.

One of them is the Yok Kita GAS (Disposal Management Movement) program which has been implemented in stages from 2021 to 2025, covering 41 locations in various regions in Indonesia.

Programs that reach the traditional market community and the surrounding environment through the establishment of 36 waste bank units and the development of 5 traditional market units as community-based waste management centers.

This program also provides beneficiaries with waste sorting training, financial literacy, institutional strengthening, as well as equipment assistance such as organic waste disbursement machines and communal maggot tubs to support the community-scale waste processing process.

On a separate occasion, BRI Corporate Secretary Agustya Hendy Bernadi said that sustainable waste management is part of BRI's commitment to supporting the circular economy and implementing ESG principles.

"We also continue to encourage collaboration with various parties, ranging from recycling partners, workers, to the community, to strengthen efforts to manage responsible waste," said Hendy.

In addition to a number of BRI initiatives that are in line with the spirit of World Environment Day, through consistent and measurable waste management, BRI also contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) number 13, namely Climate Action, as a form of commitment to facing climate change.

Furthermore, Hendy invited the entire community to take part in efforts to protect the environment, especially in dealing with the increasingly urgent plastic waste crisis.

"Simple things such as reducing the use of single-use plastic, sorting out household waste, or supporting recycled products can have a big impact if done together. Let's start with small things, for a more sustainable future of the earth," he concluded. (ADV)