Bekasi Regency (ANTARA) - Commission VII of the Indonesian House of\nRepresentatives has highlighted aspects of sustainability in the Bottled\nDrinking Water (AMDK) industry, particularly concerning water resource\nmanagement and plastic waste handling, to ensure production processes\ncomply with regulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main point is that we want to ensure the AMDK industry operates\nin accordance with the rules, including sustainability aspects,\u201d said\nDeputy Chair of Commission VII Chusnunia Chalim while leading a specific\nworking visit to PT Tirta Alam Segar (TAS) in Cikarang, Bekasi Regency,\nWest Java, on Thursday.<\/p>\n
She explained that the formation of the AMDK Working Committee or\nPanja AMDK under Commission VII was driven by concerns over access to\nclean water and the environmental impacts of the industry, necessitating\noversight of all production processes to meet standards and\nsustainability principles.<\/p>\n
From the raw materials perspective, Commission VII ensured that the\ncompany does not directly use groundwater but instead relies on an\nintegrated industrial zone system from the local industrial estate\nmanager.<\/p>\n
Collaboration in purchasing bulk water from regional drinking water\ncompanies or local governments was suggested as an option for obtaining\nraw materials.<\/p>\n
Chusnunia also emphasised the importance of maintaining water\nresource sustainability, including through the construction of retention\ninfrastructure such as reservoirs.<\/p>\n
\u201cCompanies using water as raw material must contribute to\navailability, one of which is building reservoirs so that water is\nstored longer on land,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
In addition to water raw material issues, attention was also directed\ntowards the use of single-use plastic packaging. Chusnunia assessed that\nthe annual increase in plastic waste volume has not been matched by\noptimal management.<\/p>\n
Currently, the recycling rate through circular economy schemes is\nsaid to be below 30 per cent, while most waste ends up in landfills or\npollutes the environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf not managed properly, plastic will pollute the sea, rivers, and\nforests,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
Commission VII encourages increasing recycling capacity and\nstrengthening the waste management ecosystem, including linking waste\nbanks with industries as off-takers.<\/p>\n
Such efforts, according to Chusnunia, require cross-sectoral\norchestration to match the massive production scale.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Commission VII also highlighted the importance of\ninnovations in environmentally friendly plastic raw materials based on\nbiotechnology and strengthening domestic industry self-reliance, which\nstill depends on imports of raw materials.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe appreciate PT TAS\u2019s contributions through its CSR in providing\nclean water access, especially during disaster response, but we also\nencourage the company to develop more sustainable and long-term impact\nprogrammes, particularly in areas still facing limited clean water\naccess,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Director of PT Tirta Alam Segar Ricky Tjahjono expressed commitment\nto providing quality drinking water at affordable prices while striving\nto expand clean water access through various social programmes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope our products can be enjoyed by the wider community, while\nalso contributing to clean water access provision,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He explained that the raw water supply has so far been obtained from\nthe MM2100 industrial estate manager, which is also connected to the\nBekasi Regency Government\u2019s regional-owned enterprise, Perumda Tirta\nBhagasasi, thus indirectly empowering the local company.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom an environmental perspective, we have also implemented a\nwastewater treatment system with high standards,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
From a regulatory standpoint, Special Staff to the Minister of\nIndustry for Accelerating Industry 4.0 Transformation Andi Rizaldi\naffirmed that AMDK products are in the category required to meet\nIndonesian National Standards (SNI). This provision applies to all\nindustry players, both large and small scale.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll AMDK producers must be SNI-certified to ensure public safety and\nhealth aspects. Small industries are also mandatory, and the government\nassists with certification costs. The government is also promoting\nconsumer education, including plans to categorise sugar levels in\nbeverage products to raise public awareness of health risks,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/commission-vii-highlights-sustainability-of-bottled-drinking-water-industry-1775749854", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }