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On July 8, 2023, BANANA & Partners conducted a comprehensive training on the conversion of waste cooking oil into biodiesel for fishing boat engines in the village of Anggana, Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan. This event witnessed participation from various sections of the community including local fishermen, residents, students from the Mulawarman University Community Service Program (KKN), and environmental activists from Anggana.

The initiative was executed in collaboration with Pertamina Hulu Mahakam, through their Community Development Officer (CDO) and their Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) team. The ultimate goal of the program was to equip the community with knowledge and skills to transform waste cooking oil into a form of renewable energy that could be readily used and could have a direct, positive impact on their lives.

Converting waste cooking oil into biodiesel may sound like a complex process, but with the right knowledge and tools, it can be quite straightforward. The process involves the following steps:

1. Collection and filtration: The waste cooking oil is collected and then filtered to remove food particles and other impurities.
2. Preparation of the reaction mixture: The filtered oil is heated and mixed with an alcohol, usually methanol, and a catalyst, typically a strong base like sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.
3. Transesterification: The heated mixture is then left to react, a process called transesterification, where the triglycerides in the oil react with the alcohol to form esters (biodiesel) and glycerol.
4. Separation: After the reaction is complete, the mixture is allowed to settle. The biodiesel floats to the top and the glycerol sinks to the bottom. These are then separated.
5. Purification: The biodiesel is then washed and dried to remove any remaining catalyst, alcohol, or glycerol. The end product is ready-to-use biodiesel, a cleaner-burning, renewable substitute for petroleum diesel.

This conversion process, while it may seem simple, can have a profound impact on communities like those in Anggana, providing a sustainable solution to energy needs while tackling environmental issues stemming from waste oil disposal. BANANA & Partners’ endeavor in promoting such green initiatives not only empower the local communities but also contribute towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.

From Titik Nol Nusantara, in Ibukota Negara (IKN) located in Sepaku Subdistrict, North Penajam Paser Regency (PPU), East Kalimantan Province (Kaltim), World Environment Day was commemorated on June 5, 2023. BANANA & Partners, represented by Herry Wijaya, were invited by Mulawarman University (UNMUL) in collaboration with the Indonesian Professor Association (API) to hold an event called “Youth Care Action and Dialogue” with the theme of “IKN Minimizes Plastic Waste”.

The theme for World Environment Day this year is associated with controlling pollution or contamination from plastic waste. Hence, the representative of IKN urged all stakeholders involved in IKN’s development to begin socializing and adopting a lifestyle that minimizes waste.

In the same location, the initiator of this program and also a member of API, Prof. Dr. Esti Handayani Hardi, S.Pi., M.Si stated that waste has become a significant problem because it can impact economically, ecologically, and security-wise if not properly managed.

The larger the population and development, the more waste will be generated. Therefore, society must be aware and intensify waste management efforts.

“We’ve wanted to hold an action event like today’s for a long time. Initially, we wanted to clean up the waste in the Balikpapan Bay area. However, due to time constraints, we’re starting by collecting waste in the IKN area. We will continue to oversee IKN’s development so it doesn’t generate waste that could harm the environment. UNMUL will regularly visit to monitor,” said the Coordinator of the Doctoral Program in Environmental Science at UNMUL.

In addition to waste cleanup actions, the event also involved a dialogue involving students, East Kalimantan’s Miss Indonesia 2023 Natasya Priyanka, CEO of Banana & Partners Herry Wijaya, Director of Environmental Affairs and Disaster Management of IKN, Onesimus Patiung, and Professor Esti Handayani Hardi. One of the Mulawarman University students, Suryanti Ramdhani, also participated as a speaker in this dialogue.

During this dialogue, Herry Wijaya emphasized the importance of a sustainable ecosystem, one aspect of which is waste management as a support for the circular economy in IKN, and promoting a sustainable system through multi-sectoral cooperation.

“It’s time for us to change our mindset. We are no longer “locals”; IKN and its surrounding cities will become the focus of attention for Indonesia, ASEAN, Asia, even the world; hence we mustn’t lag behind in terms of knowledge, technology, and the will to advance,” stated Herry Wijaya.

BANANA & Partners continues to monitor the mega IKN project, which is being built according to the plan of the IKN Authority. They continually support sustainable projects that prioritize social, economic, and environmental impacts for sustainable prosperity.

In a remarkable collaboration aimed at empowering local fishermen and promoting sustainable practices, BANANA & Partners joined forces with PERTAMINA PHE OSES to support the Pelaut Tangguh program. This initiative, launched in 2022, focuses on enhancing the well-being and knowledge of fishing communities, ultimately fostering their self-reliance.

On June 23, 2023, Rifqi Al-Ghifari, representing BANANA & Partners, conducted an engaging session on wood waste management in shipbuilding and docking with over five fishing groups from Pulau Harapan, Pulau Kepala, and Pulau Kepala Dua. Shipbuilding has been a longstanding tradition in Pulau Kelapa and Kelapa Dua, as the majority of the local population depends on fishing as their primary livelihood. With more than a ton of wood waste accumulating each month, the program aims to reduce waste and boost the community’s economic opportunities.

The event also featured the presence of Mr. Achmad from Pulau Karimun Jawa, who introduced an innovative and environmentally friendly fishing trap called “bubu.” This program specifically targeted hook and shoot fishermen, providing them with additional fishing techniques and promoting the use of nylon plastic waste as a substitute for coral reefs in the bubu’s construction.

Together with representatives from PERTAMINA PHE OSES, Mr. Baskoro and Mr. Dibyo, the fishing communities expressed their hopes for continuous and sustainable development, particularly in improving their living standards. BANANA & Partners is committed to being a reliable partner to PERTAMINA PHE OSES, providing cutting-edge technology and empowering the local workforce to effectively manage wood waste and transform it into marketable products. This partnership aims to foster a competitive business mindset within the community.

“We extend our gratitude to PERTAMINA PHE OSES for inviting us and allowing us the opportunity to share and network with more than five fishing groups. We witnessed immense potential in Pulau Kelapa and Kelapa Dua to create a sustainable island, generating significant social, economic, and environmental impact on the surrounding communities.”

“We remain dedicated to supporting the Pelaut Tangguh program in creating sustainable prosperity.”

Let us come together and make a profound impact on coastal communities while building a sustainable ecosystem with BANANA & Partners.

By infusing this article with a narrative that emphasizes the collaborative efforts, transformative goals, and the potential for creating a lasting impact on the community, the story becomes more engaging and captures the reader’s attention.

Taipei, Taiwan – BANANA & Partners, represented by its Chief Business Officer, Rifqi Al-Ghifari, embarked on a journey to the vibrant city of Taipei in Taiwan to participate in the “APEC Digital Innovation to Facilitate SMEs’ Green Transformation” event, held over two days from June 13th to 14th, 2023. BANANA & Partners joined representatives from APEC member countries’ governments, along with 17 startups from diverse nations including Taiwan, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, and Indonesia.

During the event, BANANA & Partners had the opportunity to showcase their innovations, deliver pitches, and connect with potential partners and investors from various countries. The main event took place at the prestigious National Taiwan University, where entrepreneurs and stakeholders converged to explore avenues for sustainable growth. Additionally, BANANA & Partners had the privilege of visiting the Nangkang Software Incubator and engaging in cultural activities that highlighted Taiwan’s rich heritage.

“For us, this was a rare and invaluable opportunity to participate in the APEC event and introduce our innovations and startups. Personally, I am deeply impressed by the startup ecosystem in Taipei, Taiwan. They possess a strong global mindset and a profound focus on technology, giving them a competitive advantage in the global market,” said Rifqi.

The event, inaugurated on June 13th, 2023, by Mr. Chern-Chyi “C.C.” Chen, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Chinese Taipei), Mr. Hattori Takashi, Deputy Representative of JTEA, and Mr. Nicholas Dwyer, Economic Officer at AIT, encompassed not only showcases and exhibitions but also keynote speeches, policy dialogues, and panel discussions. The keynote speeches were delivered by Mr. Dan Stevenson, Senior Director of Microsoft Teams Engineering for Asia (U.S.), and Mr. Kung-Yueh Camyale Chao, Executive Director of the International Climate Development Institute (Chinese Taipei). Policy dialogues featured representatives from the Industrial Technology Research Institute, Research and Development at the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Chinese Taipei), the Korea SMEs & Startups Institute, and Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation from Japan.

On the final day, BANANA & Partners seized the opportunity to showcase several low-carbon initiatives and empowerment impacts initiated since 2020. Alongside 17 other startups, this occasion served as a platform to establish connections and gain deeper insights into the progress of startups within the APEC region. Afterwards, Rifqi visited the Nangkang Software Incubator, which has nurtured over 30 startups that have successfully secured funding in Taiwan, while also supporting a sustainable ecosystem for startup founders in the country.

“Having witnessed the tremendous support from the government, private sector, and business climate in Taiwan, I am inspired to continue developing BANANA & Partners in terms of innovation and global partnerships,” expressed Rifqi. “I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, particularly to Ms. Lely Hiswendari, for accompanying me throughout the trip and assisting SMEs and startups in Indonesia to progress.”

BANANA & Partners’ commitment to creating both local and global impact serves as a significant foundation for sustainable prosperity. To stay updated on the latest developments from BANANA & Partners, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

#ForSustainableProsperity

Biochar is produced by heating biomass and converting it to a more stable form. Biomass is all organic compounds derived from agricultural crops, algae and organic waste. 30-50% carbon is contained in the biomass. Of this amount, 4.4% is in exhaust gases, 0.01% in the atmosphere, and 80% in biochar.

Avoiding burning prevents dilution of carbon by 10x – 4,000x. Biomass carbonization can instead concentrate 2x as much carbon. The conversion of 50% of the carbon represents for optimizing crop yields of biochar, not in energy.

The problem lies with CO2, where 1 t C pure carbon = 3.66 t CO2. Addressing this problem at its root means preventing carbon atoms from becoming CO2 molecules. There are 6 very relevant carbon removal options:

-Afforestation/Reforestation
-Build-up of soil organic matter
-Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR)
-Enchanced Weathering
-Bioenergy with Carbon Capture & Storage (BECCS): Utilizing agricultural organic waste to produce energy.
-Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS): Carbon capture technology that filters and reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions directly from the air by using high-powered fans.

The last 4 options are permanent carbon removal, one of which is Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) which is a system for removing carbon in the sky and placing it permanently into the ground. Using biochar as a carbon storage agent is by far the most efficient method of carbon removal because it only removes carbon, not entire CO2 molecules.

BCR is of the highest quality and stability. The stability of carbon in biochar is verified by a third party against the stringent standards of the European Biochar Certificate and verified by a third party through bio-inspecta GmbH according to the strict puro.earth Biochar methodology.

Application of biochar also yielded agricultural benefits and demonstrated a 9.6% increase in plant height for 2009 biochar carbon sequestration and a 33% yield increase from dry sandy soils from 2010 (ecoera.se).

The wide range of biomass suitable for carbonization includes wood, straw, coconut shell, twigs and algae. Currently, the application of biochar is applied in urban areas, agriculture, as well as construction materials.

Currently, biochar production in Europe is moving very fast. The European Biochar market has grown strongly and will continue to grow. At the end of 2022 Biochar production capacity is 53,000 t and Biochar production is approximately 33,500 t (equivalent to more than 90,000 t CO2e). And By the end of 2023, Biochar production capacity in Europe will increase to 90,000 t and production in 2023 is expected to exceed 50,000 t (equivalent to almost 150,000 t CO2e). This is the cumulative number of Biochar production plants in Europe.

• By end of 2022, the cumulative number of production plants in Europe has grown to 130 installations
• Until the end of 2023, the cumulative number of production plants in Europe is expected to grow to 180 installations
• Many further projects (some of them quite large) are in an advanced planning and permitting process for commissioning in 2024

The recovery and use of biochar is increasing in a variety of applications, with the material offering significant added value, but remains a challenge and requires policy and regulatory support to develop an offtake market in parallel with increasing production.

source: EBI (European Biochar Industry) Market Report 2022/2023

The 2022 Sustainability Report of BANANA & Partners (PT Abadan Nusantara International) is the first annual report published by the Company. This report is not GRI standard, this is a media to convey information to all stakeholders in the Governance, Social and Environmental sectors regarding the achievements, performance, commitments, program initiatives and the impact of the Company’s operational for the period of this year in the range of 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022.

BANANA & Partners exists for the community to manage and process waste into renewable energy and composite materials through a waste processing facility that we called PANDORA (Pusat Industri Daur Oelang Rumahan). By using the concept of a circular economy and the programs we run, we have helped deal with waste problems from upstream to downstream and have had an economic, social and environmental impact on the surrounding community. BANANA & Partners will continue to work on creating sustainability ideas and strategies in the future in line with our goal, #ForSustainableProsperity.

Download The 2022 Sustainability Report of BANANA & Partners on the link below.

Report

Recycling is the process of collecting used materials that are waste and then processing them for reuse. The elements contained in the waste are separated and selected and then prepared for reuse as raw materials for new products.

Plastic recycling is very important in today’s world. Because plastic is a non-biodegradable material that takes decades to break down before it can be reused.

In the hands of creative people, plastic waste can be recycled into useful and valuable items.

A recent graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art, where she studied interdisciplinary sculpture, Trisha Cheeney created Pälemer as direct competition to fast fashion and part of a recycling revolution. One of its products is a winter jacket made from 214 plastic shopping bags. (top left)

Researchers at the University of Bath are working with plastics engineering specialist Protomax to design and test reusable shelters. The materials of the shelters are recycled plastic waste, called Storm Board, which is also suitable for recycling and use. (top right)

In Chile, a new program is helping to tackle the problem of ocean plastic pollution by repurposing old fishing nets into play and sports equipment. (bottom)

The first school in Asia built from recycled plastic bricks. The construction of SDN Taman Sari in Medas Bentaur Village, Gunung Sari, West Lombok, NTB is a remarkable achievement because it uses recycled plastic waste to make building bricks.  SDN 04 Taman Sari,  made possible by the collaboration between Classroom of Hope (Australia), Block Solutions (Finland), Pelita Foundation Lombok and NTB Local Administration. The construction process similar to assembling Lego blocks, was impressively fast, unique and environmentally friendly building materials used.

In PANDORA, our waste-to-energy and waste-to-material facility, we process pressed plastic and chopped plastic from plastic waste which are then used as plastic recycling material that factories need to make useful and valuable items. In one PANDORA, we can process ±3 tons of plastic waste per day.

For those of you who live in Jabodetabek and are interested in joining BANANA & partners, please kindly to contact us!

When You’re Choosing BANANA as Your Partner, You Contribute #ForSustainableProsperity that helps people do more for the planet.