JAKARTA — Dompet Dhuafa Volunteer (DDV), in collaboration with Belantara Foundation and the Indonesian Philanthropy Association (PFI), held a photo contest on Instagram from June 5 to June 19, 2023. This photo contest is one of the efforts to support the commemoration of World Environment Day (HLH) on June 5, 2023. The support was marked by a photo contest theme chosen in line with the global theme of HLH World in 2023, namely Beat Plastic Pollution or Solutions to Plastic Pollution. The theme explains that everyone is part of the solution to tackling plastic pollution.
The primary purpose of this photo contest is to invite and encourage people to be part of the solution to plastic pollution. Executive Director of Belantara Foundation, Dr Dolly Priatna, said this activity aims to increase public awareness and understanding of the importance of protecting and preserving the environment from plastic pollution.
“We will continue to invite and encourage people to participate in action to tackle plastic pollution. Hopefully, this photo contest activity can support the 12th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target, namely responsible consumption, and production,” he said.
Meanwhile, the GM of Communication and Strategic Alliance of Dompet Dhuafa, Haryo Mojopahit, revealed that people so far may not understand that plastic used and then thrown away ends up with the extinction of other creatures on earth, increases the number of disasters, and pollutes our consumption water.
“Therefore, Dompet Dhuafa Volunteer, who has a concern about the movement to reduce single-use plastic waste through this photo contest, wants to show the power of images that can open our consciences to ask ourselves, “Is this the result of the destruction of the earth that I did?” Haryo said in Jakarta Monday (5/6/2023).
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For the full terms and conditions of the photo contest, please visit the DompetDhuafa Volunteer Instagram page.
Plastic pollution is a real threat to life. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that in 2040 29 million tons of plastic will enter the world’s aquatic ecosystems, including the ocean. Most plastic waste comes from land pollution sources that must be handled properly.
Based on 2022 National Waste Management Information System data, Indonesia produces around 68.5 million tons of waste. About 18.5% of them are in the form of plastic waste. This data is caused by shifts in people’s lifestyles and consumption patterns in single-use plastics.
Plastic plays a role in three types of crises on earth: global warming, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Scientists estimate that less than 10% of all plastic waste on a global scale. About 79% of plastic waste is in landfills or nature, while about 12% is incinerated.
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One of the plastic waste management strategies is the circular economy. The circular economy is how a product is produced and utilized, pollutes the earth as little as possible, and the community gets more significant benefits through increasing economic values. Therefore, it is essential to hold a mindset of at least three main principles, reduce, reuse, and recycle.
This mindset requires active steps of collaboration to achieve comprehensive and sustainable solutions in reducing single-use plastics. One of them is through the Environmental and Conservation Philanthropy Cluster (KFLHK), as a forum for active involvement of philanthropic institutions to overcome environmental problems and a discussion forum for environmentalists.
Executive Director of the Indonesian Philanthropy Association (PFI), Gusman Yahya, stated that it is in line with the strategic role of PFI as a catalyst for collaboration and co-creation through collective action in supporting the acceleration of the achievement of SDGs and the climate change agenda.
“We see the importance of multi-stakeholder collective action between governments, the private sector, civil society, and consumers in reducing single-use plastics. We need to work together to bring about positive change in tackling the plastic problem and implement sustainable solutions to protect our environment for future generations,” concluded Gusman. (Dompet Dhuafa/DDV/PR)