As the first step of the year to spread awareness on environmental issues, this year, BritCham held the first environmental series with prestigious speaker Yuyun Ismawati Drweiga and a Q&A session with Ah Muftuchan and Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri as the panellists.
The discussion started on drastic impacts caused by direct exposure of chemicals in plastics through the full lifespan itself. Yuyun delicately explained that plastic goes through the process of extraction and transport; refining and manufacturing; consumer use and waste management, and that damage to people not just by the waste, but skin contact, inhalation and ingestion. She continued on saying that this was important as it was not just the ocean that is drastically being harmed, but many aspects of our environment are affected as well, for example, the air, to name a few.
The discussion then went on around economics of plastic through the imports and exports of waste plastics for major contributing countries. Overall, it was apparent that some countries in Asia contributing to the total of plastic waste imported. Also, most western countries exported more plastic waste than they imported.
The topics of export and import waste were not too often discussed within public space. While it add on new information for 30 plus participants, the event itself become a discussion place between participants to discuss type of waste to the major developed countries that have exported plastic waste to Indonesia within the last couple of years.
Overall, Yuyun massively educated every listener with the damaging components of plastic and the impact specifically on Indonesia and delved into the issues that need resolving and how we can take vital steps nearer to a ‘greener’ and a healthier world.
