Plastic Waste Based Keychain as a Creative Way to Provide Environmental Education

Plastic waste based keychain production is used by AVIRAMA Foundation collaborate with Rumah Plastik Mandiri as a creative educational tool to tackle environmental issues and promote recycling concept.

The problem of plastic waste remains a major challenge in various regions, including Indonesia. The increasing use of plastic in everyday life has led to a continuous increase in the amount of plastic waste. Plastic is difficult to decompose naturally and takes tens to hundreds of years to decompose. Therefore, if not managed properly, it can have various negative impacts on the environment. Carelessly discarded plastic waste often pollutes rivers and oceans, clogs waterways, damages ecosystems, and endangers the lives of living creatures, especially marine animals that often mistake plastic for food. Furthermore, indiscriminate burning of plastic waste can also produce hazardous substances that negatively impact human health. Currently, with restrictions on waste disposal to open dumping landfills in Bali, coupled with a lack of education, many Balinese people take shortcuts by dumping their waste in rivers or burning it in the open.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Concept
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Concept (Design by AVIRAMA Team)

This situation demonstrates that the plastic waste problem is not merely an environmental issue but also a social issue that requires collective awareness and involvement. Therefore, concrete efforts are needed to raise public awareness of wiser and more sustainable waste management. One way to do this is through the implementation of the concepts of reduce, reuse, and recycle, as well as through creative and accessible educational activities.

Keychain from plastic waste
Plastic waste based keychain (Documentation by AVIRAMA Team)

As a manifestation of its commitment to environmental issues, on May 10, 2025, the AVIRAMA Foundation, in collaboration with Rumah Plastik Mandiri Buleleng, held an activity to process plastic waste into creative keychains, promoting a recycling concept. This activity arose from concerns about the increasing amount of plastic waste that remains under-managed in the community. Through this activity, the AVIRAMA Foundation aims to demonstrate that plastic waste does not always end up as waste that pollutes the environment, but can be recycled into creative products that have utility, artistic, and even economic value.

As an organization engaged in social and environmental matters, the AVIRAMA Foundation believes that environmental education must be conducted with a creative, interactive approach that is close to the lives of the community, especially the younger generation. Environmental issues are often perceived as difficult and boring, so activities that provide not only theory but also hands-on experiences that can foster real-world awareness are needed. Therefore, this plastic waste processing activity was designed not only as a craft training but also as a learning tool about the importance of protecting the environment through simple actions that anyone can do. This activity was conducted at Rumah Plastik Mandiri.

Plastic Waste Based Keychain Production Process

The process of making key chains with a CNC machine
The process of making key chains with a CNC machine (Documentation by AVIRAMA Team)

During the activity, participants were first provided with an understanding of the impact of plastic waste on the environment and the importance of adopting a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. After the educational session, participants were invited to participate in a hands-on activity processing plastic waste into key chains. The process began with sorting plastic waste, cleaning the materials, processing the waste, and finally creating an attractive and useful final product, the plastic waste based keychain. Through this process, participants learned that items previously considered useless actually have the potential to be reused if processed with creativity and innovation.

This activity not only served as a means of environmental education but also served as a platform to foster creativity, collaboration, and community awareness of the plastic waste problem. The zero-waste concept implemented taught that everyone plays a vital role in reducing the amount of waste produced. Furthermore, recycled products such as key chains demonstrated that waste management can provide added value and open up creative opportunities that benefit the community.

Group photo with Rumah Plastik Mandiri, AVIRAMA, Talk Sustainable, and students of SMAN Bali Mandara
Group photo with Rumah Plastik Mandiri, AVIRAMA, Talk Sustainable, and students of SMAN Bali Mandara (Documentation by AVIRAMA Team)

Through this activity, organized by the AVIRAMA Foundation through Talk Sustainable Community in collaboration with Rumah Plastik Mandiri Buleleng, it is hoped that the public will become more aware of the importance of protecting the environment and begin to adopt more responsible habits regarding plastic use in their daily lives. This activity also demonstrated that big changes can start from small steps taken together. With education and concrete actions like this, efforts to create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment can continue to be realized.

Article Contributor: Putu Melka Marfella, Ni Ketut Marga Yanti, Ni Putu Chandra Lestari

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