Jakarta, July 30, 2024 – As an effort to reduce plastic waste, Bank Mandiri provides reverse vending machines (RVM) or plastic bottle exchange machines for recycling in several Bank Mandiri operational office points.

The facility, which has been open since December 2023, also helps keep the office areas managed by Bank Mandiri free from plastic waste pollution. Currently, RVM machines are available in 4 Bank Mandiri offices, namely Sentra Mandiri, Plaza Mandiri, Menara Mandiri, and Mandiri University Daan Mogot.

Bank Mandiri Deputy CEO Alexandra Askandar said the RVM machines are equipped with attractive service features and can be used flexibly. One of these features is an interactive touch screen, making it easy for users to understand the machine's usage instructions.

“This machine can be used by anyone, both workers in the Bank Mandiri Group area and visitors to the office area,” said Alexandra.

The initial step of its use starts with inserting a used plastic bottle into the RVM machine. Shortly after, the RVM machine will detect the type of item that has been processed. After that, the machine provides an exchange value in the form of credit points for its users.

“Those points can be exchanged for prizes, such as shopping vouchers or handicraft products made from recycled plastic bottles,” added Alexandra.

Until June 2024, Bank Mandiri's RVM recorded 4,679 transactions, with 30.3 thousand plastic bottles collected weighing 566.7 kg. These transactions involved 473 people, with a total of 1.6 million points sent.

For every 1 plastic bottle exchanged with the RVM machine, the donor will receive 2 rewards in the form of Plasticpay Points and Livin’ Points. Meanwhile, the exchange value for 1 plastic bottle is equivalent to 56 Plasticpay points and 1 Livin’ Point.

Livin’ Points, or commonly referred to as Livin Mandiri points, is a loyalty appreciation program for Bank Mandiri customers. With this program, customers can collect a number of points from transactions via Bank Mandiri.

Furthermore, plastic bottles are generally made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastic, which is commonly found in carbonated soft drink bottles, bottled water, milk, juice, and sports drinks. PET is a type of plastic labeled with code #1 above or near the bottom of bottles and containers.

Plastic waste, said Alexandra, is one of the items that contribute to the increase in carbon emissions. This phenomenon can be resolved through collaborative work with various parties. Bank Mandiri realizes this collaboration by appointing third parties in the procurement and management of RVM machines.

“This cannot be done alone, but must involve several parties, especially subsidiary companies. According to us, RVM is an extraordinary breakthrough that needs to be supported together,” said Darmawan.

The procurement of RVM involves PT. Plasticpay Teknologi Daurulang (Plasticpay) and has shown positive trends and social impacts. For instance, there are now 480 community participations involved in changing the behavior of sorting plastic bottle waste.

It is also recorded that 32,310 pcs of plastic bottle waste, equivalent to 604.35 kg of plastic bottles, have been collected and will be recycled into felt material as much as 43.95 m2. In addition, 3,199,482 grams of CO2 carbon footprint have been successfully reduced.

He added that waste management will become a big problem if the activities of collecting, sorting, and managing waste do not run efficiently. Poorly managed waste has the potential to pollute the environment and disrupt public health.

According to him, recycling waste in company operations has proven Bank Mandiri's commitment to implementing sustainability aspects. Similarly, RVM machines are considered to play a role in creating an emission-free work environment in the future.

“Bank Mandiri realizes that efficient waste management can create a conducive work environment and reflect sustainability values for the company and society,” added Alexandra.

Citing Bank Mandiri data, RVM transactions up to June 2024 are equivalent to saving an area of 478.82 m2 and reducing a carbon footprint equivalent to 3 million grams of CO2.

This step is in line with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry's target regarding the roadmap for reducing waste by producers by 30 percent by 2029. This also includes supporting Bank Mandiri's Net Zero Emissions Operations in 2030 and Indonesia's Net Zero Emissions vision in 2060 or sooner.

“We hope this RVM can become a positive synergy with Mandiri and Mandirian to encourage the public to adopt an environmentally friendly and low carbon emission lifestyle,” concluded Alexandra.