Global Manufacturing Industry Embraces Sustainable Practices for Export Market

INTI,- The global manufacturing industry is increasingly oriented towards sustainable practices. Many export destination countries now require specific product and company requirements, including eco-labels, recycled material content, absence of certain chemicals, carbon emissions values of products and processes, compliance with other international green standards, and the utilization of digital technology. In Indonesia, the green industry policy has been established through Law Number 3 of 2014 concerning Industry.

"The Ministry of Industry views the implementation of green industry standards as the answer to the need for tools to comply with the export destination country's regulations on sustainable practices and commodity risk management, thus providing a competitive advantage for the national industry," said Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, the Minister of Industry, in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday (May 16th).

To address the challenges in the industrial world today, the government has undertaken various strategic efforts, including preparing competent human resources (HR) for the industry. In the effort to produce competent industrial HR, the Ministry of Industry has established several vocational education units, including nine vocational high schools (SMK), 11 polytechnics, and two community academies spread across various regions in Indonesia.

"One of the campuses under the Ministry of Industry, Politeknik APP Jakarta, has partnered with Southeast Asia Work Integrated Learning (SEAWIL), along with Politeknik Seberang Perai (Malaysia), Politeknik Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), and Politeknik LP3I Medan (Indonesia). One of the focus areas of this program is to broaden students' understanding of the latest industry developments, including green industries," said Masrokhan, the Head of the Industrial Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDMI) of the Ministry of Industry.

The program includes visits to logistics and port industries in each respective location where the higher education institutions are located. Politeknik APP Jakarta conducted an industrial visit to PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) located in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.

"The visit to Pelindo (PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia) was conducted to learn and discuss with the port operators in Indonesia regarding the extent to which green technology and energy have been implemented in Indonesia," said Erika Fatma, the Head of the Electronics Industry Logistics Management Department.

The participants of the visit received information on Green Ports as part of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia's efforts towards achieving net-zero emissions. After the material presentation, discussions were held regarding the challenges, opportunities, and plans for green technology development and its social and economic impact.

"Pelindo, as the largest port operator in Indonesia, can be a very interesting case study and reference for the adoption and utilization of green technology and energy in Indonesia," added Erika.

The SEAWIL program integrates learning activities with industrial projects through Project-Based Learning. This program provides opportunities for students to interact and collaborate intensively with students from other countries.

The program provides knowledge about the implementation of green energy that can have a positive impact on companies, both economically, environmentally, and socially. Additionally, students can delve deeper into the challenges and obstacles faced by companies and their plans for the next 10 years.

"Students who participated in the industrial visit to Pelindo were very enthusiastic to learn about the development of green technology that has been and will be implemented by Pelindo. The students also hope to have the opportunity for a return visit and see firsthand the technology that has been implemented," concluded Erika. ***. Hans