Star Next-Gen Eco Innovators concludes with Sunway University team clinching victory.
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00:00Team Mecco from Sunway University earned the grand prize of 10,000 ringgit at the Star
00:08Next Gen Eco-Innovators Inter-University Programme for its groundbreaking Meccobin plastic bottle
00:13collection solution designed for B40 communities.
00:17The group emerged as champion from a total of 10 teams, which competed at the Inter-University
00:22Finale held at Manara Star in Petaling Jaya recently.
00:27The team said they are grateful to have been given the opportunity to explore ideas to
00:30tackle plastic waste.
00:32And of course we feel very glad that all our hard work has paid off, all the research,
00:37all the endless meetings, yeah, overall very happy for this opportunity.
00:42Now we have kind of like not that much capital, so if someone could sponsor us, you know,
00:47get us some supporters, we'd be more than happy for them to reach out to us and for
00:51us to explore more on our ideas.
00:53The programme was held across five universities in the Klang Valley, namely Sunway University,
00:59UCSI University, Taylors University, Asia-Pacific University of Technology and Innovation, and
01:06Unitar International University.
01:08UCSI University won both the first and second runner-up prizes of 7,000 ringgit and 3,000
01:14ringgit respectively.
01:16The first runner-up spot went to Team FS2, who presented their innovative solution, Pegnology,
01:22a method for converting non-recyclable polyethylene terephthalate into polyethylene glycol.
01:28We hope that maybe either one of us or anybody else within UCSI, we can take this into research,
01:36let us bring the name of our university out, and let's continue to work for the environment.
01:42Second runner-up, Team PlastX's solution, uses a mobile recycling truck that repurposes
01:46plastic bottles as pet filaments for 3D printing, turning them into practical, sustainable goods.
01:53We already have plans to actually attempt it as a project and to run it in our own school,
02:00and to buy the parts, to actually consult our lecturers, and to actually make it possible.
02:05The Star Next Gen Eco-Innovators programme was launched in September to empower university
02:09students to redefine how the country approaches real-world plastic waste challenges.
02:14Embracing the theme, Transforming Plastic Waste into Sustainable Solutions, the programme
02:19challenged their participants to develop sustainable solutions centred around a circular economy
02:24approach through collective innovative thinking, presented as actionable business proposals.
02:29The aim is to mitigate plastic pollution and enhance plastic waste management.
02:34Star Media Group's Chief Business Officer and the programme's Head Judge Lydia Wang
02:39said it seeks to cultivate the next generation of sustainable champions, and providing them
02:44with the skills and tools to become leaders in driving positive environmental change.
02:50This programme, what is most exciting to me, is the introduction of sustainability real-world
02:57challenges for the students to tackle. By addressing climate anxiety and the pervasive
03:04issue of plastic waste, it encourages the students to internalise the problem and look
03:10for holistic, long-term solutions. Throughout the course of this programme, the students
03:15were introduced to concepts like circular economy, and then looking for long-term solutions
03:21that is commercially viable. These are very critical tools for them when they go forward
03:28into their future to effect sustainable change. As a sponsor, Coca-Cola Malaysia has pledged
03:35its support to the programme in finding solutions to complex plastic waste challenges. A panel
03:40of esteemed judges and industry experts evaluated the innovative solutions based on various
03:45criteria such as relevance, implementation, creativity, originality, feasibility and potential
03:53impact. Other judges were Coca-Cola Malaysia Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability
03:59Senior Manager Wan Ahmad Shiazwan Mohamad and Malaysia Plastics Recyclers Association
04:04Chief Delegate and Precious Plastics Malaysia Director Yong Yi.
04:09I think this programme is a good programme to engage students involved in plastic recycling
04:18because I'm the industrial guy. We know this is not something that we can learn in
04:25the schools or we learn in real life. This is a topic that not much people will touch
04:33on. So I think this programme will let the students try to research more, understand
04:39more about plastic, upcycle plastic, recycle plastic, know more about plastic. Yes, they
04:46are living with plastic all this while, but I think for recycling plastic, there's not
04:52much information from the schools and also from the public.
04:57The university students made use of SMG's green screen studio, Studio Maya, to present
05:02their innovative solutions to the judges during the finale. Other finalists also received
05:07certificates for their participation in the programme. SMG and Coca-Cola Malaysia hope
05:12the programme will inspire a new generation of sustainability leaders and drive the adoption
05:17of circular economy practices in Malaysia.