From Agribusiness to Electronics Industry: Panel Discussion on Circular Economy in Various Sectors on the International Policy Workshop on Trade, Circular Economy and Sustainability

 

The growth of the manufacturing industry and the expansion of multinational companies have catalyzed the economic growth, but it has also resulted in serious environmental problems due to its linear economy model. The linear economy is characterized by the “take-make-dispose” behaviour, which refers to the exploitation of finite natural resources to produce goods that will be thrown away after its usage. This causes various problems, including overflowing landfills and natural resources scarcity. The circular economy system wants to change the traditional production and consumption pattern by separating economic growth from the exploitation of finite natural resources, which can be achieved by offering a regenerative economic design where resources are reused, reproduced, and recycled.

With the drive to create initiatives and develop circular economy policies, Center for World Trade Studies Universitas Gadjah Mada (CWTS UGM) held several panel discussions attended by researchers from various backgrounds and research topics on the “International Policy Workshop on Trade, Circular Economy and Sustainability: Forging Knowledge Co-Production on International Trade and Circular Economy Linkages in Developing Countries.” There are five discussion panels covering different topics and industry sectors. The first and second panels, which were held on Tuesday (21/9/21), discussed the topic of “Circular Economy in Agribusiness, Food and Beverage Industry” and “New Frontiers in Circular Economy.”

The first discussion panel was attended by four researchers, namely:

1. Elisabeth Repelita Kuswijayanti: “Social-Ecological Innovation as a Catalyst for Circular Economy Transition in Agribusiness Sector: The Case of Social Investment by PT Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Tbk”;
2. B. Endo Gauh Perdana: “Integrating circularity of lifestyle through the shifting in Indonesian diet: The alternative of frying method”;
3. Nadhira Wardhani: “Transitioning the Packaging Sector to Circular Economy”;
4. Rana Rofila Qonita: “Circular Economy Approach to Managing Food Waste: Policy Challenges.”

Guided by Arifah Purnamasari, the discussion was interactive and the participants actively asked questions and discussed with the researchers. The researchers also received valuable input from Indra Kusuma Nasution, Ph.D. as the discussant in the first session. Indra also conveyed interesting insights about the Japanese philosophy of life known as “Mottainai.” Mottainai itself is used to convey regret over waste, in which the exclamation “mottainai!” can be directly translated as “What a waste!”. This term indicates that we should not throw away anything that still has value and reuse it in a practical way. Mottainai is considered a term that encompasses the 4R behaviors: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Respect.

The discussion continued with the second panel: “New Frontiers in the Circular Economy”. This panel was moderated by Rizky Alif Alvian and covered the circular economy emergence in fashion, health, cosmetics, and education. Seven researchers presented four research topics in this panel, namely:

1. Reytasari Azura Putri and Rizky Nurramadita: “Opportunities to Implement Circular Economy Principles in the Healthcare Industry in Indonesia”;
2. Rahayu Budi Handayani: “Strategies for Implementing Circular Fashion in Indonesia”;
3. Ameral Rizkovic: “Strategies for Managing the Plastic Waste of the Beauty Industry Products: A Circular Economy Perspective”;
4. Rahmatika Dewi, Junita Widiati Arfani, and Didit Herawan: “A study of circular economy in university students: the assessment of knowledge, attitude, and behavior.”

Suci Lestari Yuana as the discussant of this panel conveyed an approach known as the multilevel model which states that a circular economy transition can occur if there is encouragement or pressure from 3 elements, namely Niches, Regime and Landscape.

The workshop continued on the second day (22/9/21) with the third panel on “Circular Economy, Investment and Industrial Policy.” This panel was moderated by Fadhilatul Hikmah, attended by Dr. Daniel Petz as the discussant, and involved five researchers with three research topics, namely:

1. Muhammad Reza Syariffudin Zaki and Hendra: “Legal Aspects of Circular Economy in Developing Blue Economy Investment”;
2. Ni nyoman Clara Listya Dewi and Zia’ulhaq As Shidqi: “Indonesia’s Circular Economic Policy for Local Industrial Development”;
3. Lukas Andri Surya Singarimbun: “Analysing Development Cooperation between Indonesia and Denmark in Developing Circular Economy.”

This panel highlighted the importance of multi-actor partnerships to make the circular economy evolve. Governments, communities, NGOs, and countries must work together to encourage the development and implementation of the circular economy to help developing countries like Indonesia, which still lacks funds and technology.

The fourth panel discussion on “SMEs and People-based Initiatives in Circular Economy” was moderated by Junita Widiati Arfani, attended by Dr. Michelle Ayu Chinta Kristy and Nur Azizah as the discussants, and raised three research topics and from five researchers, namely:

1. Astadi Pangarso, Retno Setyorini, and Kristina Sisilia: “Analysing Future Research Potentials on the Implementation of Circular Economy for SMEs in Indonesia”;
2. Chandra Wahyu Purnomo: “Community-based waste recycling initiatives: Challenges and opportunities”;
3. Thifani Tiara Ranti: “Linking fair trade and circular economy: prospects for sustainability.”

This panel mainly discussed how SMEs and local communities can take part in implementing the circular economy transition in developing countries, despite the lack of costs, human resources, and stakeholder collaboration shown by some preliminary findings.

The last panel about “Circular Economy in the Construction and Electronic Industries” was moderated by Taufiq Adiyanto, attended by Tri Mulyani Sunarharum as the discussant, and raised three research titles from four researchers, namely:

1. Didit Herawan: “The awareness of subsidized housing developers in Indonesia to the application of circular economy”;
2. Leonard Patrick Bromokusumo and Valerie Prasetya: “Circular Economy in Indonesia: A Case Study on MSMEs of Construction Industry”;
3. Nurul Qomariyah Arifanni: “Circular Economy in Multinational Corporations for Harmonizing the Management of Electronic Waste.”

The fifth panel concluded the panel discussion session of the workshop. It is to be hoped that the researchers and participants would get valuable inputs regarding the circular economy development in various sectors.

---

Dari Agribisnis hingga Industri Elektronik: Diskusi Panel Mengenai Ekonomi Sirkular di Berbagai Sektor dalam Lokakarya Kebijakan Internasional mengenai Perdagangan, Ekonomi Sirkular dan Keberlanjutan.

Pertumbuhan industri manufaktur dan ekspansi perusahaan multinasional di satu sisi berperan dalam mengatalisasi pertumbuhan ekonomi, akan tetapi juga mengakibatkan kerusakan lingkungan serius akibat model ekonominya yang masih bersifat linear. Model ekonomi linear dicirikan dengan perilaku “ambil-buat-buang,” yakni perilaku eksploitasi sumber daya alam untuk keperluan produksi barang yang akan dibuang setelah selesai digunakan. Sebagai dampaknya, muncul berbagai permasalahan yang mencakup penimbunan sampah dan kelangkaan sumber daya alam. Sistem ekonomi sirkular ingin mengubah bagaimana sistem produksi dan konsumsi telah lama berjalan dengan cara memisahkan pertumbuhan ekonomi dari eksploitasi sumber daya alam yang terbatas yang dapat dicapai dengan menawarkan desain ekonomi regeneratif dimana sumber daya digunakan kembali, diproduksi ulang, dan didaur ulang.

Dengan semangat untuk mendorong munculnya inisiatif dan kebijakan pengembangan ekonomi sirkular, Pusat Studi Perdagangan Dunia Universitas Gadjah Mada (PSPD UGM) mengadakan diskusi panel yang diikuti oleh berbagai peneliti dari beragam latar belakang dan topik penelitian dalam lokakarya kebijakan internasional bertajuk “International Policy Workshop on Trade, Circular Economy and Sustainability: Forging Knowledge Co-Production on International Trade and Circular Economy Linkages in Developing Countries.” Terdapat lima panel diskusi yang membahas topik dan sektor industri berbeda. Panel pertama dan kedua yang dilaksanakan pada Selasa (21/9/21) membahas topik “Ekonomi Sirkular dalam Agribisnis, Industri Makanan dan Minuman” dan “Terobosan Baru dalam Ekonomi Sirkular.”

Panel diskusi pertama diikuti oleh empat orang peneliti, yakni:

1. Elisabeth Repelita Kuswijayanti dengan judul penelitian “Social-Ecological Innovation as a Catalyst for Circular Economy Transition in Agribusiness Sector: The Case of Social Investment by PT Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Tbk.” (Inovasi Sosial Ekologis sebagai Penggerak Ekonomi Sirkular Sektor Agribisnis: Studi Kasus Kegiatan Investasi Sosial PT Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Tbk.);
2. B. Endo Gauh Perdana dengan judul penelitian “Integrating circularity of lifestyle through the shifting in Indonesian diet: The alternative of frying method”;
3. Nadhira Wardhani dengan judul penelitian “Transitioning the Packaging Sector to Circular Economy” (Transisi Sektor Kemasan Menuju Sirkular);
4. Rana Rofila Qonita dengan judul penelitian “Circular Economy Approach to Managing Food Waste: Policy Challenges” (Pendekatan Ekonomi Sirkular dalam Pengelolaan Limbah Makanan: Tantangan Kebijakan).

Diskusi berjalan interaktif dengan panduan Arifah Purnamasari dan masukan Indra Kusuma Nasution, Ph.D. selaku pembahas pada sesi pertama. Dalam sesi ini, Indra juga membagikan pengetahuan terkait filosofi hidup masyarakat Jepang untuk tidak boros yang dikenal dengan Mottainai. Seruan “Mottainai!” yang dapat diterjemahkan sebagai “Sungguh sia-sia!” sendiri digunakan untuk menyampaikan rasa penyesalan atas pemborosan. Dalam kaitannya dengan ekonomi sirkular, mottainai mengindikasikan keharusan untuk tidak membuang segala sesuatu yang masih memiliki nilai dan menggunakannya kembali dalam cara praktis, yakni melalui perilaku 4R: Reduce (kurangi), Reuse (gunakan kembali), Recycle (daur ulang), Respect (hargai).

Diskusi dilanjutkan dengan panel kedua mengenai “Terobosan Baru dalam Ekonomi Sirkular” yang dipandu oleh Rizky Alif Alvian. Terdapat empat topik penelitian yang mencakup industri-industri di bidang fashion, kesehatan, kosmetik, serta pendidikan dan disampaikan oleh tujuh orang peneliti, yakni:

1. Reytasari Azura Putri dan Rizky Nurramadita dengan judul penelitian “Opportunities to Implement Circular Economy Principles in the Healthcare Industry in Indonesia” (Peluang Penerapan Prinsip dalam Industri Kesehatan di Indonesia);
2. Rahayu Budi Handayani dengan judul penelitian “Strategies for Implementing Circular Fashion in Indonesia” (Strategi Pengembangan Fashion Sirkular di Indonesia);
3. Ameral Rizkovic dengan judul penelitian “Strategies for Managing the Plastic Waste of the Beauty Industry Products: A Circular Economy Perspective” (Upaya Pengelolaan Limbah Plastik Produk Industri Kecantikan: Tinjauan Konsep Ekonomi Sirkular);
4. Rahmatika Dewi, Junita Widiati Arfani, dan Didit Herawan dengan judul penelitian “A study of circular economy in university student: the assessment of knowledge, attitude, and behaviour” (Studi mengenai Ekonomi Sirkular: Asesmen terhadap Pengetahuan, Sikap dan Perilaku Mahasiswa).

Suci Lestari Yuana selaku pembahas dalam panel ini menyampaikan salah satu pendekatan pengembangan ekonomi sirkular yang dikenal dengan model multilevel. Pendekatan ini berbasis pada logika bahwa transisi dapat terjadi apabila terdapat dorongan atau tekanan dari tiga elemen yang saling mempengaruhi satu sama lain, yakni Niches, Regime dan Landscape.

Lokakarya dilanjutkan pada hari kedua yang dibuka dengan panel diskusi mengenai “Ekonomi Sirkular, Investasi dan Kebijakan Industri.” Panel diskusi ketiga dalam lokakarya ini dipandu oleh Fadhilatul Hikmah, mengundang Dr. Daniel Petz sebagai pembahas, dan melibatkan lima peneliti dengan tiga topik penelitian, yakni:

1. Muhammad Reza Syariffudin Zaki dan Hendra dengan judul penelitian “Legal Aspects of Circular Economy in Developing Blue Economy Investment” (Aspek-Aspek Hukum Ekonomi Sirkular dalam Mengembangkan Investasi Ekonomi Biru);
2. Ni nyoman Clara Listya Dewi dan Zia’ulhaq As Shidqi dengan judul penelitian “Indonesia’s Circular Economic Policy for Local Industrial Development” (Kebijakan Ekonomi Sirkular Indonesia untuk Pembangunan Industri Lokal);
3. Lukas Andri Surya Singarimbun dengan judul penelitian “Analysing Development Cooperation between Indonesia and Denmark in Developing Circular Economy” (Analisis Kerja Sama Pembangunan Indonesia dengan Denmark dalam Pengembangan Ekonomi Sirkular).

Salah satu poin penting yang bisa diambil dari diskusi adalah pentingnya kerja sama semua pihak dalam pengembangan ekonomi sirkular. Pemerintah, masyarakat, lembaga non-pemerintahan, dan negara-negara harus bekerja sama mendorong pengembangan dan implementasi ekonomi sirkular untuk membantu negara berkembang seperti Indonesia yang masih kekurangan dana dan teknologi untuk mengembangkan ekonomi sirkular.

Diskusi panel keempat mengangkat topik “UMKM dan Inisiatif Masyarakat dalam Ekonomi Sirkular” yang dipandu oleh Junita Widiati Arfani, mengundang Dr. Michelle Ayu Chinta Kristy dan Nur Azizah sebagai pembahas, serta mengangkat tiga topik penelitian dari lima peneliti, di antaranya:

1. Astadi Pangarso, Retno Setyorini, dan Kristina Sisilia dengan judul penelitian “Analysing Future Research Potentials on the Implementation of Circular Economy for SMEs in Indonesia” (Analisis potensi penelitian mendatang terkait konsep ekonomi sirkular untuk UMKM di Indonesia);
2. Chandra Wahyu Purnomo dengan judul penelitian “Community-based waste recycling initiatives: Challenges and opportunities” (Daur ulang sampah dan limbah berbasis masyarakat, antara peluang dan tantangan);
3. Thifani Tiara Ranti dengan judul penelitian “Linking fair trade and circular economy: prospects for sustainability.”

Pada diskusi panel ini banyak dibahas bagaimana UMKM dan masyarakat dapat berperan serta dalam mewujudkan ekonomi sirkular di negara berkembang, terlepas dari temuan-temuan awal menunjukkan bahwa praktik ekonomi sirkular di negara berkembang masih terkendala biaya, sumber daya manusia dan kolaborasi para pemangku kebijakan.

Panel terakhir bertemakan “Ekonomi Sirkular dalam Konstruksi dan Industri Elektronik” yang dipandu oleh Taufiq Adiyanto, mengundang Tri Mulyani Sunarharum sebagai pembahas, serta membawa 3 judul penelitian dari 4 orang peneliti, yakni:

1. Didit Herawan dengan judul penelitian “The awareness of subsidised housing developers in Indonesia to the application of circular economy” (Kepedulian Pengembang Perumahan Bersubsidi di Indonesia terhadap Penerapan Ekonomi Sirkular);
2. Leonard Patrick Bromokusumo dan Valerie Prasetya dengan judul penelitian “Circular Economy in Indonesia: A case Study on MSMEs of Construction Industry”;
3. Nurul Qomariyah Arifanni dengan judul penelitian “Circular Economy in Multinational Corporations for Harmonising the Management of Electronic Waste” (Skema Ekonomi Sirkular Perusahaan Multinasional untuk Harmonisasi Manajemen Limbah Elektronik).

Panel kelima menjadi penutup sesi diskusi panel dalam lokakarya. Harapannya para peneliti maupun peserta mendapatkan informasi berharga terkait ekonomi sirkular di berbagai sektor.