Single-use plastics are a glaring example of the problems with throwaway culture. While they are cheap and versatile, with countless uses across many industries, almost half of all plastic is used to create single-use products that can spend hundreds of years degrading.

It is time to change how we produce, consume and dispose of the plastic we use. And when it comes to waste that lasts forever, every ton counts.

Lotus's moves towards sustainability
“For the retail industry specifically, the circular economy presents unique opportunities to rethink traditional business models and transform the way products are produced and consumed. They also deliver long-term value to the consumer,” said Corporate Services Executive Director of Lotus’s Malaysia, Azliza Azmel.

When Lotus’s Malaysia first removed its single-use plastic bags at checkout counters in July 2021, the retailer was able to redirect 26 million pieces from hitting landfills and oceans. Initially there were customers who were unhappy about the plastic bag removal but over time they too adopted the habit of bringing their own bag to shop.

This year, the retailer joined hands with the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Kuala Lumpur to further tackle the subject of circularity within the retail landscape by organising the first National Sustainability Innovation Challenge 2023 (NaSIC’23). Lotus’s Malaysia is the first retailer of its kind to initiate such a challenge through a public-private partnership, further signifying its commitment towards sustainability.

Apart from empowering the youth, through this partnership, Lotus’s is also crowdsourcing ideas to further dive into the subject of circularity.

Reduce, reuse, recycle and replace single-use plastics in retail
NaSIC’23 was introduced to encourage innovative thinkers and problem solvers who are interested in environmental issues by providing them with exposure to green technology, engineering, science solutions and real industry cases.

Empower Malaysian youth to create a sustainable future
“This is our first collaboration with MJIIT-UTM to gather brilliant school going Malaysians to explore and express their innovative ideas; to address real challenges in the retail industry, with potential to become workable solutions fit not only for Lotus’s but for other retailers in Malaysia. We hope that with NaSIC’23, this will in many ways help to integrate sustainability into all aspects of education in Malaysia,” said Azliza.

Since its launch in April 2023, NaSIC’23 had successfully garnered participation from 390 students aged 14 to 18, representing 77 schools from West and East Malaysia. At the finals in Lotus’s Selayang, 21 students from seven teams had showcased their brilliant ideas to a panel of judges from both Lotus’s and MJIIT-UTM.

Judges present were Sushmita Paul, Chief Operating Officer of Lotus’s Malaysia, Azliza Azmel, Corporate Services Executive Director of Lotus’s Malaysia, Professor Dr. Masafumi Goto, Deputy Dean of Liaison and Internationalisation, MJIIT- UTM Kuala Lumpur and Associate Professor Dr. Roshafima Rasit Ali, Postgraduate Academic manager of MJIIT-UTM Kuala Lumpur.

The best idea will be further developed by MJIIT-UTM to benefit Lotus’s and potentially the retail industry in Malaysia. At the award ceremony, the top three teams were awarded with cash vouchers worth RM1200, RM900 and RM600 respectively. Below are NaSIC’23 winning teams:

Champion: Team BLITZ from Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Kubang Pasu. Their innovative idea was to utilise biodegradable and compostable plastic using rambutan seeds.

First Runner Up: Team A-Rice from Vision Secondary School, Tawau. Their creative plan was to use water-soluble bags for dry produce, while using cellulose bags and compostable vacuum seals for wet produce.

Second Runner Up: Team The Earth Warrior from Sekolah Menengah Sains Seri Puteri. Their ingenious concept was to create points redemption through Lotus’s Loyalty Programme when customers return their plastic packaging.

“Although there are many companies that have come up with their sustainability activities, not many have collaborated with the youths. What makes NaSIC’23 stand out is, it gives us, students the opportunity to showcase our talents and ideas to reduce single-use plastic bags in the retail industry. We are so proud for winning NaSIC’23 and would like to thank the panellists and organisers for making the event a success,” said Team BLITZ leader, Abdul Muhaimin,16.

“NaSIC’23 definitely gave us a huge exposure in learning the proper bureaucracy in communicating with large corporations such as Lotus’s. It is also a stepping stone for us students to gain real-world experience and prepare ourselves on how the working life would look like,” said Lakshman Rao, 22, organising committee from UTM.

Also present at the closing and award ceremony was Professor Technologist Dr. Abdul Latif Bin Saleh, Pro-Vice Chancellor, UTM Kuala Lumpur Campus and Professor Technologist Dr. Ali Bin Selamat, Dean, MJIIT-UTM.

Sustainable development is a collaborative effort
“We can see how Malaysia is working towards phasing out single-use plastic bags. Most retailers have started to stop providing single-use plastic bags to shoppers and Lotus’s Malaysia is one of them. Many companies work hard to phase out the use of single-use plastic by introducing stainless steel bottles and straws or reusable bags. UTM as the leading technical university in Malaysia, we are committed toward the innovation in producing new types of bioplastics, biodegradable plastics and sustainable materials for replacing the conventional plastics, as well as new technologies for processing used plastics to reduce its environmental impacts, said Professor Technologist Dr. Abd Latif Bin Saleh, Pro-Vice Chancellor, UTM Kuala Lumpur Campus.

Other finalists for NaSIC’23 include:
1. Team Eco-lution - Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Putrajaya
2. Team ReWale - Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Langkawi
3. Team Masterminds - Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bandar Seri Putra
4. Team Mission Impossible - SMK Bandar Putra

At the event, Azliza also shared that its ESG commitment is guided by its parent company, Charoen Pokphand Group Three Benefit Principle, where its sustainability efforts should not only benefit the company but also the society and the country in which it operates.

Lotus’s had introduced its food waste composting trial efforts from one of its stores in 2022. This has resulted in 16% of its food waste successfully diverted from landfills. Other initiatives in circularity also include the use of sustainable materials in the packaging of Lotus's Own Brand products. To date 68% of its own brand packaging is fully recyclable.

Both Lotus’s and MJIIT-UTM has plans to continue its partnership for NaSIC’24, to address other areas of sustainability that will benefit the environment, consumers and students.

For more information on NaSIC’23, visit its official website: https://mjiit.utm.my/chee/nasic23/. You can also head to NaSIC’23 Instagram page too!