Near Infrared Spectrometer To Sort Plastics Waste For Recycling Wins The Inaugural Design For Plastics Circularity Challenge In Malaysia

BANGI, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- The Design for Plastics Circularity Challenge 2024, a comprehensive competition designed to inspire university students to create sustainable and cutting-edge solutions in plastics circularity, concluded with a grand closing and prize-giving ceremony today. Held at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), the event celebrated the creativity, originality, and commitment to sustainability demonstrated by the finalists and winners from top universities across the country. The challenge, which was launched on 14 June 2024, searched for ideas in three areas; innovative and sustainable plastics packaging, methods to reuse or recycle single-use plastics products and plastics waste management technologies.

The challenge aimed to bridge the gap between academia and industry, providing students with insights into current industry needs, relevant policies, and the national plan for sustainability and circularity in the plastics industry. Additionally, the challenge received 70 ideas from higher education institutions nationwide such as Universiti Teknologi Mara (UITM), University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC), Institut Kemahiran Tinggi Belia Negara (IKTBN) Sepang and others, with potential for further development into breakthrough innovations that could directly benefit the industry.