[Unpad.ac.id, 12/10/2013] Plastic waste is one of the significant causes of soil pollution due to its non-degradable nature. Realizing that only little attention is given by the society to this matter, Atika Putri Astrini has her own way of reducing the use of plastic bags. She creates a more environmentally safe product—a smart shopping bad that she calls Vertesac, from French meaning green bag. “It integrates technology with environmentally safe materials tor serve the purpose of controlled shopping,” says Putri, now studying at Management Department, Faculty of Economics and Business Unpad. The bad makes use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology connected to mobile application via QR code which can trace shopping activity that the user does. In addition, the RFID can also be used as replacement for member card or discount card. The product is now being processed for its patent right.
The idea began in 2011, in which she collaborated with some of her friends from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). She invited bag makers from Cimareme, all of whom are women to take part and eventually made them bag-making partners. “I collaborated with bag makers from Cimareme. They have already had their own market. So, it’s one advantage,” says Putri.
Due to its excellence in both idea and concrete product, Putri has recently won Bayer Young Environmental Envoy (BYEE) 2013 for Best Product category and become Bayer’s Young Ambassador for the Environment. Together with another environmental ambassador from Universitas Hassanudin, Syaiful Sadir, Putri will go to Germany to take part in BYEE International on November 11-15, 2013.
Putri believes that going green stresses efficiency and effectiveness which can be achieved by creating innovations supported by creativity. “We have to start reducing plastic bags, and get the society to stop using them. We can also work with environmental organizations to promote this movement,” Putri concludes.
