Celebrating Its 12th Anniversary, POJ Collects Nearly 100 Kg of Waste and Plants 130 Mangroves on Untung Jawa Island

JAKARTA – PT Pesonna Optima Jasa (POJ) collected nearly 100 kilograms of waste from the coastal area of Untung Jawa Island, Thousand Islands, as part of a series of activities celebrating the company's 12th anniversary on October 28, 2026. Carrying the theme “Roots and Rise,” POJ marked this milestone as an opportunity to strengthen its foundations, foster environmental awareness, and make tangible contributions to environmental sustainability. Beyond the beach cleanup, POJ also planted 130 mangrove seedlings and promoted plastic waste management to transform collected materials into recycled products.

The initiative involved dozens of participants, including POJ President Commissioner Hafrizal Okta Ade Putra, POJ Director Ferry Hariawan, company officials, and employees. In collaboration with OceanKita, the initiative connected beach cleanup activities with post-collection waste management while ensuring that the planted mangroves would receive maintenance and monitoring over the following six months.

"For POJ, reaching our 12th anniversary is not only about the company's achievements but also about the contributions we can make to the environment and society. We want to demonstrate that environmental awareness must be translated into concrete actions, from cleaning coastal areas and promoting waste reuse to preserving ecosystem sustainability through mangrove planting and monitoring. We hope this initiative will deliver lasting benefits while encouraging more stakeholders to participate in protecting the environment," said Ferry.

Coastal Waste Management Goes Beyond Collection, with Plastics Sorted into 18 Categories

During the beach cleanup, participants discovered various types of waste, including plastic cups and bottles, straws, plastic cutlery, bottle caps, plastic bags, sachet and multilayer packaging, and styrofoam. Other waste materials included sandal soles, shoes, diapers, cigarette butts, textiles, glass bottles, intravenous tubing, tarpaulins, fishing nets, and sacks.

The diversity of waste highlighted the challenges facing coastal areas. Improperly managed waste can pollute marine environments, disrupt marine habitats, and degrade coastal ecosystems. Therefore, effective waste management must go beyond collection to include sorting and processing based on the characteristics of each material.

The collected waste was separated into plastic and non-plastic categories. Plastic waste was then transported to OceanKita's sorting facility, where it was washed, dried, and classified into 18 categories according to material type. This process enables plastic materials to be directed toward appropriate reuse and recycling channels based on their characteristics and economic value.

Turning Waste into Products Through Collaboration with Local Collectors and Women's Groups

Following the sorting process, plastic waste was classified into high-value and low-value plastics. High-value plastics, including bottles, cups, and plastic cutlery, will be collected by local waste collectors on Untung Jawa Island for further reuse.

Meanwhile, low-value plastics, such as straws, plastic bags, packaging materials, and styrofoam, will be processed with partner organizations into recycled boards. These products can be used in the construction industry, including as wall and flooring panels.

A small portion of plastic bags and packaging materials will also be transformed through upcycling activities involving women's groups on Untung Jawa Island. These materials will be turned into sewn products, such as bags and pouches. This initiative creates opportunities for discarded materials to gain new functions while supporting productive economic activities within the local community.

Residual waste that cannot be reused or recycled will be transported to a landfill. This comprehensive process expands the impact of the beach cleanup beyond maintaining coastal cleanliness by encouraging the recovery and reuse of materials that still have potential value.

Planting 130 Mangroves with Six Months of Continued Maintenance

In addition to addressing coastal waste, POJ planted 130 mangrove seedlings to support the preservation of coastal ecosystems. Mangroves play an essential ecological role, including helping reduce coastal erosion, providing habitats for various marine and coastal species, and maintaining the ecological balance of coastal environments.

"As a company operating in the vehicle rental industry, we recognize that our business activities generate carbon emissions that require collective responsibility. Through mangrove planting, POJ aims to contribute to carbon absorption efforts and coastal ecosystem conservation. We believe that business growth must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility," said Ferry.

The planting initiative will be followed by six months of maintenance and growth monitoring conducted by OceanKita. Updates on the mangroves' development will be reported to POJ to provide insights into the condition of the seedlings after planting. This monitoring process is a crucial part of ensuring the initiative's long-term sustainability. The benefits of mangrove planting depend not only on the number of seedlings planted but also on their ability to grow and survive under local environmental conditions.

Through this series of activities celebrating its 12th anniversary, POJ integrated beach cleanup efforts, waste management, recycled material utilization, community empowerment, and mangrove conservation. These initiatives reflect the company's commitment to promoting more responsible environmental management through collaboration with partners and local communities.

POJ hopes that these activities will strengthen public awareness that environmental protection requires collective participation and consistent follow-up actions. By connecting tangible initiatives, resource utilization, and social benefits for local communities, POJ seeks to make a sustainable contribution to the preservation of coastal environments.