Promoting Social Innovation Based on Environmental Volunteer to Develop Plastic Waste Management Strategies in the Green Campus Model

Plastic is a material composed of polymers and is either synthetic or semi-synthetic [22]. The utilization of elastic plastic makes it highly suitable for everyday use [13]. Plastic offers numerous advantages in both residential and industrial settings, but it also causes damage on the environment [23]. Every individual who utilizes plastic in daily activities is expected to produce 1.3 kg of waste plastic on average per day [22]. The plastic waste problem is worrying and getting worse, since it is predicted to increase twice by 2050 [24]. Furthermore, the process of plastic degradation requires several centuries [25].

The global community is currently engaged in discussions regarding plastic waste [9]. Plastic pollution in ecosystems on land [26] and seas [10] is currently the environmental issue that is raising worry. Plastic waste has a direct negative impact on the environment [27], as well as on humans and animals [28]. This aligns with the results of prior research indicating that plastic pieces create a threat to river ecosystems, leading to increased flood hazards due to its blockage of the drainage system [12]. Furthermore, plastics with non-biodegradable characteristics will transform into microplastics when exposed to sunlight [29].

Afterwards, the clean plastic waste process technique was further developed into a hierarchical concept, establishing a prioritized order for general waste treatment. The order is as follows: (a) Step 1 Reduce: minimize waste production by trying to produce as little waste as possible; (b) Step 2 Reuse: utilize the waste directly; (c) Step 3 Recycle: the process of cleaning or turning something so that it can be used again, either as a raw material or as a source of energy; (d) Step 4 Treatment: the material is used and then processed in order to make it easier to handle afterward, or to ensure that it may be discharged into the environment without causing damage; (e) Step 5 Dispose: remove any excess or waste that cannot be handled by properly dumping it into the environment and should be done using effective and secure technical methods, such as placing it in an efficient and planned landfill; (f) Step 6 Remediation: environmental media, including water and soil, that have been contaminated as a result of improper waste management, must be restored or repaired using suitable technical methods, such as bioremediation.

The characteristics of social innovation, as defined by Dhewanto et al. [30] and Damario and Comini [31] encompass the following: (1) Cross-sectoral: Social innovation has the potential to occur in multiple sectors and can be interconnected and sustainable; (2) Open and Collaborative: Social innovation requires the collaboration of all stakeholders; (3) Grassroots and Bottom-Up: Social innovation typically originates from the lower levels of society (bottom-up); (4) Pro-sumtion and Co-Production: enhancing the empowerment of target communities, enabling them to transition from being just consumers to being active producers; (5) Mutualism: social innovation demonstrates an interconnection or interdependence among all parties involved; (6) Establishes New Roles and Relationships: Social innovation typically emerges and evolves through collaboration with and participation of beneficiaries or users; (7) Better Use of Assets and Resources: Social innovation is commonly seen as the effective utilization of limited or insufficient resources, which are transformed into valuable commodities that can be marketed, such as recycled plastic waste; (8) Develops Assets and Capabilities: Social innovation requires a significant amount of time for its effects to become visible to people engaged in it.

Corresponding with this explanation, Murray et al. [32] proposed a perspective on the development of social innovation’s developmental stages. This perspective uses a sequential evaluation method for the advancement of social innovation. The process includes: (1) Using prompts as the initial phase of problem analysis; (2) Generating proposals or ideas for problem-solving; (3) Conducting prototyping or initial trials to test these ideas; (4) Ensuring the consistent implementation of ideas through sustaining efforts; (5) Expanding innovations through scaling, which involves legalizing and expanding the organization; (6) Systematically designing strategies to address the problems.

4.1 Plastic waste management at UM

Students show concern for plastic waste by supporting the use of environmentally friendly packaging. Based on the questionnaire data, no students were classified as having very low concern, while 11.11% of students were included in the low concern category. 55.56% of students showed a high level of concern, and 33.33% of students showed a very high level of concern (Figure 2).

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Figure 2. Diagram of student concern for green packaging

This data is also shown from the attitude of students who use tumblers to refill their drinks, along with the UM which has provided refill drinking water taps in several strategic locations. In addition, a number of students prefer to use cloth bags rather than plastic bags to carry their belongings (Figure 3).

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(a) Students using refillable water bottles

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(b) Student refilling water bottle at a water fountain

Figure 3. Examples of student concern for green packaging

The students and cleaning staff’s concern for the sorting of plastic waste is impressive. UM has a household Unit dedicated to managing waste management issues. Furthermore, the university and faculty student councils also own an environmental department. Within the Research and Community Service Institute, there exists a Green Campus Unit as part of the Environmental and Disaster Migration Center at the university level. Within each academic department, there is also a dedicated Green Campus Unit. For students who are not part of the abovementioned teams, a significant number of them are affiliated with the Environmental Volunteer Group and the Student Activity Unit known as Bhumi. All the units and groups mentioned above synergistically contribute to addressing environmental issues, especially the challenge of plastic waste. Plastic waste sorting is carried out in every building, or once it is already on the Mobile Truck for waste collection, as shown in the following Figure 4.

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(a) A temporary collection site for plastic waste on campus

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(b) A collection point for plastic bottles to be recycled

Figure 4. Plastic waste management

Among the students surveyed, 77.78% were frequently engaged in environmental volunteer activities, 11.11% were engaged in such activities occasionally, none were engaged in them sometimes, and 11.11% never participated in them. The graph is shown in the following Figure 5.

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Figure 5. Diagram of respondents who are actively involved in environmental volunteers

The participation of students in training on recycling plastic waste has been consistently high. The study found that 66.67% of the respondents always participate in plastic waste recycling training, while 0% often participate, 11.11% sometimes participate, and 22.22% never participate. The graph is shown in the following Figure 6.

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Figure 6. Diagram of student participation in plastic waste recycling training

Students’ understanding of companies that handle the sales of plastic waste is to be evaluated. The percentage composition of individuals based on their level of understanding is as follows: 11.11% belong into the category of very high understanding, 55.56% belong into the category of high understanding, 22.22% belong into the category of low understanding, and 11.11% belong into the category of very low understanding. The graph is shown in the following Figure 7.

To foster social innovation through environmental volunteers and implement a strategy for plastic waste management utilizing the Green Campus Model, it is essential to carry out a SWOT analysis (Figure 8). The SWOT analysis is performed using data collected through surveys, interviews, and the outcomes of two Forum Group Discussions. Conducting an internal analysis using the Strategic Factors Analysis Summary (IFAS) and an external analysis using the Strategic Factors Analysis Summary (EFAS) to identify strategies that can be applied for the Green Campus Model of plastic waste management social innovation at UM. The findings can be seen in the following Table 2.

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Figure 7. Diagram of student participation in plastic waste recycling training

Table 2. SWOT analysis results of plastic waste management at UM

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Figure 8. SWOT analysis quadrant

4.1 Social innovation based on environmental volunteers in developing plastic waste management

Students can be prepared to create a sustainable environment and become future green activists by implementing environmental education. Environmental education has been shown to positively impact the perception, behavior, and commitment of environmentally aware students, hence promoting the achievement of the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) on campus [7]. UM, as an environmentally friendly university, has developed the Green Campus Road Map for 2023-2027. This document serves as a guide for the university’s environmental management. The road map is shown in the following Figure 9.

In order to accomplish the Green Campus Road Map, it is essential to develop a strategic policy for waste management on campus that involves the active participation of the entire university community. This involvement is crucial for promoting waste management through recycling, reusing, and composting initiatives. Therefore, engaging in these environmentally conscious activities can effectively decrease the production of waste, thereby promoting the adoption of sustainable environmental solutions [33]. The Innovation Plan in Environmentally Friendly Waste Management incorporates the strategic policy, as shown in the following Figure 10.

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Figure 9. The green campus road map of UM for 2023-2027

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Figure 10. The Green Campus Model for waste management plan at UM

Table 3. Amount and sales results of inorganic waste for 10 days at UM

The waste management model for the Green Campus, particularly in regards to plastic waste, has been thoroughly tested and put into practice, as shown in the following Figure 11.

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Figure 11. Implementation of social innovation for plastic waste management strategy

The results of the above SWOT analysis are categorized inside Quadrant I, specifically indicated as the Aggressive Strategy. In this quadrant, it is evident that waste management at UM presents a significant potential for improvement in terms of proper management. Efficient management of inorganic waste, particularly plastic waste, presents significant economic potential for enhancing health, particularly for the cleaning staff of the Building and Garden, and even for the UM as a whole. According to the study’s findings, the Amount and Sales Results of Inorganic Waste for 10 Days at UM are shown in Table 3.

The implementation of inorganic waste management, specifically plastic waste, involves a collaborative effort among various stakeholders. These include the Head of Household, Head of Garden Area, Head of Joint Lecture Building, Head of General Sub-Division of each Faculty, Cleaning Team, Room Cleaning Area (outsourcing), Environmental Volunteer Team, student council member, as well as external parties who regularly purchase plastic waste from the university, namely the Malang City Waste Bank and small business related to waste management near to the university.

Therefore, engaging in extensive environmental volunteer for waste management initiatives can serve as an efficient way of enhancing student creativeness and enhancing their economic income [34]. The lack of environmental understanding among students significantly adds to environmental issues, particularly in waste management [35-37]. Basically, students have a positive attitude and understanding of environmental issues in their surroundings [38]. However, the absence of practical training through educational programs limits their ability to effectively implement waste management practices, hence worsening environmental issues. There should be a policy to incorporate environmental education into both educational and non-educational activities [39].

The primary type of waste in UM is food and beverage packaging waste. The university is responsible for waste management and it requires participation and support from various stakeholders, including students [40-43]. The Green Campus concept is executed through a sequence of reduction, recycling, and reusing procedures for packaging trash, which then gets delivered to the trash bank [44]. Green Campus implements a policy that promotes environmental sustainability and fosters responsibility and dedication among campus residents towards their surroundings [45]. The Green Campus approach fosters social innovation in plastic waste management strategies by collaborating with the Malang City Waste Bank and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the campus surroundings [45]. This relationship must be consistently enhanced to ensure the progressive improvement of environmental management sustainability on the UM campus.

Student participation in the trash management movement as environmental volunteers is a type of environmental education [46]. Universities must persist in promoting environmental education by urging students to develop practical plans and take concrete actions to protect their surrounding area [41-43]. This is crucial as the campus environment serves as a primary learning space where students spend a significant amount of their time [47, 48].