Successfully Managing the Circular Economy at Edupark, Semen Gresik Wins the 2022 BCOMMS Award
Rembang, April 8, 2022 – PT Semen Gresik (PTSG) recently won the 2022 BUMN Corporate Communications and Sustainability Summit (BCOMSS) award from the Ministry of SOEs as the second winner in the Community Involvement and Development category in the Environmental Sector.
PTSG's success is inseparable from the Company's success in the integrated farming program by empowering 311 local farmers and involving village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) to manage 39 hectares of land and increase its socio-economic value.
In addition to building horticultural commodity-based plantations, PTSG's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program in the form of integrated farming is realized through the establishment of Edupark, applying the circular economy model approach.
Dharma Sunyata, PTSG's Senior Manager of Communication and CSR Unit, revealed that since its inauguration in February 2020, Edupark, located in Kajar Village, Gunem District, Rembang Regency, has helped improve the welfare of the community in the Company's operational area.
Sunyata continued, Edupark, which developed PTSG's Integrated Crop, Cash Crop, Fish, and Livestock Farming (P4T), is an innovative effort to apply the circular economy model by optimizing existing resources, preserving the environment, and creating new jobs.
''Edupark is a program that focuses on increasing the capacity and independence of the community. It is in line with the Company's vision to create an excellent performance with stakeholders and contribute to sustainable development,'' said Sunyata in the press release.
Sunyata asserted that Edupark is a testament to the Company's commitment to involving the community in every cycle of the Company's activities, as well as minimizing environmental impacts due to economic growth. In this once arid land, Edupark serves as a means of knowledge transfer from experts to encourage farmers and ranchers to transform their businesses.
"In Edupark, farmers can directly learn how to cultivate vegetables with a hydroponic system and organic fertilizer, raise cattle, sheep, laying hen, quail, and catfish, grow oyster mushrooms, as well as make organic fertilizer and biogas from animal waste," he added.
Sunyata also said that Edupark received positive responses from many parties, including students who frequently conduct educational visits, village-owned enterprises managers, youth organizations, community organizations, SOEs representatives, private and government agencies, as well as the Indonesian National Armed Forces and the Indonesian National Police. During his visit, the Minister of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration, Abdul Halim Iskandar, stated that Edupark could serve as a pilot project for other villages.
Sunyata stated that the 2022 BCOMMS award spurred PTSG's motivation to relentlessly maintain trust, communication, and sustainability by strengthening four critical aspects: communication, dialogue, consultation, and partnership with stakeholders.
The main objective of the Community Involvement and Development activity, he affirmed, is to encourage PTSG to implement the seven principles of CSR as stated in ISO 26000, namely accountability, transparency, ethical behavior, respect for stakeholder interests, respect for the rule of law, respect for international norms of behavior, and respect for human rights.
