PT AJINOMOTO INDONESIA (Ajinomoto) implemented a circular economy practical to create an environmentally friendly production process. Ajinomoto's factory in Mojokerto has made various efforts to achieve Zero Waste which is an effort to minimize and reduce environmental pollution to zero. Various efforts have been made including reducing carbon emissions, reducing water consumption, implementing Bio-Cycle & Eco-Activity which produces co-products such as AJIFOL Fertilizer, AMINA, and FML animal feed raw materials. Besides that, there is also an improvement in waste water management so that when it is channeled into the Brantas River, the water quality becomes better and cleaner.
The concept of a circular economy is closely related to one of the policies rolled out by the Ministry of Industry, namely the green industry. The implementation of the green industry is to seek efficiency and effectiveness in the use of resources in a sustainable manner so as to be able to harmonize industrial development with the preservation of environmental functions and can provide benefits to the community so as to be able to harmonize industrial development with the preservation of environmental functions and can provide benefits to the community. The circular economy development brings opportunities for a number of industrial sectors in Indonesia, including Ajinomoto.
“Ajinomoto also implements the circular economy practical. During the production process, we always maintain and improve production efficiency from upstream to downstream. At upstream, with our own technology, we reduce the use of raw materials to increase productivity. On that process until it reaches downstream, we produce co-products that have a selling value and can be applied in the agriculture sector. Beside processing liquid by-products from MSG production, our Agriculture Development (Agri Dev) Department is also responsible for processing other solid by-products into GCC Mix soil improver, TRITAN animal feed material, and other co-products which also have selling points,” said Yudho Koesbandryo, Director of PT AJINOMOTO INDONESIA, when attending the discussion: Encouraging Green Industry Through Circular Economy.
"Besides co-product manufacturing process that applies Bio-Cycle & Eco-Activity, Ajinomoto also implements many environmentally friendly production activities such as reducing 34.900 tons of carbon emissions (CO2) in various ways, such as reducing fuel consumption throughout transportation at work, reduce the use of electricity, and overcome steam leaks in production equipment. We have a target in reducing 180.000 tons of CO2 by 2023, from the baseline year 2018," he continued.
Ajinomoto also committed to support environmental conservation by reducing water use by up to 31%, from the baseline year 2016, by making savings through water quality improvement in every production activity. This commitment is also a form of participation in the success of the Indonesian Government's environmental conservation program and in line with Ajinomoto Co., Inc's target to reduce environmental impact by up to 50%. This step also aims to maintain the availability of water on a regional scale, so that it can help overcome limited water resources due to increased water consumption, especially during the pandemic period.
“We are actively working on reduce, reuse, recover, and recycle activities for water use in most of our activities. This is quite encouraging, because even by reducing water use by up to 31%, the production capacity of MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) and other seasonings is still increasing," said Yudho.
“Then, another environmental problem in Indonesia is the amount of plastic waste which is piling up from year to year. Highlighting this problem, Ajinomoto also took concrete steps. The MSG AJI-NO-MOTO® brand, which is closely related to the daily life of Indonesian families, also contributes to overcome the problem of accumulated plastic waste by reducing the use of plastic materials in its packaging by up to 30%," he continued.
For that initiative, the AJI-NO-MOTO® MSG Brand earned a MURI record as the first MSG seasoning in Indonesia with environmentally friendly packaging. Besides that, PT AJINOMOTO INDONESIA also reduces the use of plastic in other products such as: Masako® in each 9gr package up to 8.4%, and Sajiku® in each package up to 9.5%, and further research will be carried out in the future so that Ajinomoto can continue to suppress the use of plastic materials in each product.
Through these movements, Ajinomoto hopes to inspire many parties to carry out other movements aimed at preserving the environment. Ajinomoto is committed to continue in a positive contribution for the society, by improving the welfare and health of Indonesian families through high quality products and services.
To watch again the discussion event "Encouraging Green Industry Through Circular Economy" please click on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnxCxoayy0U&t=48s