Nestlé invites young generation to tackle sustainable packaging challenges

Jakarta – Nestlé Indonesia has invited university students from various academic disciplines across Indonesia to find solutions to sustainable packaging challenges through a competition titled “#GreenGeneration Sustainability Business Case Competition”.

“What inspires us most right now is witnessing the enthusiasm and critical thinking of students that align with our goals. They bring research-based ideas that not only enrich our perspective but also encourage us to continue developing and moving further,” said Technical Director of Nestlé Indonesia Antonio Prochilo in an official statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Antonio explained that the competition was designed to address Indonesia’s sustainable packaging challenge, which lies not only in design and material but also in the gap between recycling potential and the reality of post-consumer waste management.

However, waste recycling rates have only reached approximately 14 per cent, with around 40 per cent of waste still not being managed optimally.

The post-consumer challenge is also linked to the readiness of systems and household waste management practices. Of the total annual waste generated, national waste management data shows that only 30 per cent of waste is managed through formal local government systems, whilst approximately 58 per cent of households have not consistently sorted their waste.

For this reason, Nestlé will hold a business competition titled “Building Circular and Sustainable Systems for Everyday Products”, designed to encourage young people to become agents of change in more circular and responsible packaging management.

“Their creativity and analytical depth demonstrate that the next generation is ready to become strategic partners in delivering solutions that are relevant, applicable, and have real impact for the future,” he said.

More than 3,600 students from various academic backgrounds across Indonesia participated, organising themselves into 1,355 teams and undergoing a selection process emphasising idea quality, relevance to national challenges, and implementation potential.

Through this competition, five finalist teams from #GreenGeneration received appreciation in the form of awards and development support as recognition of the ideas and solutions they have developed.