On June 9, 2026, a quiet revolution in plastic waste management began in Bandung, where a new hub for innovation—Living Lab ITB-PISCES—opened its doors at the Institut Teknologi Bandung’s Ganesha Campus. Housed within the Integrated Waste Processing Installation (IPST) at Sabuga, this living lab is more than a research facility; it’s a collaborative ecosystem where scientists, local governments, businesses, civil society, and communities come together to test real-world solutions for one of Indonesia’s most pressing environmental crises: plastic pollution. With over 6.8 million metric tonnes of plastic waste generated annually in Indonesia—nearly half of which leaks into the environment—Living Lab ITB-PISCES arrives as a beacon of evidence-based hope.
This initiative, co-launched with the PISCES Programme (Plastics in Indonesia: Society, Environment, and Science), is the second of its kind in Indonesia, following an earlier lab in Banyuwangi. Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the project emerged from years of multidisciplinary research led by ITB’s Prof. Emenda Sembiring, a waste management expert at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Her team’s work brought together academics, policymakers, and grassroots actors to map the full lifecycle of plastic waste—revealing not just the scale of the problem, but the power of co-created solutions. Now, the Living Lab offers a space where ideas can be prototyped, tested, and refined in real urban environments, ensuring they meet actual community needs.
The launch was attended by key figures including Prof. Zulfiadi, Director of Community Service and Expertise at ITB, who emphasized that the lab is not just about science, but about societal transformation. "This is a collaborative movement that connects learning, research, innovation, and service to society," he said, underscoring its role in advancing a green economy. Rofi Alhanif, Assistant Deputy for Circular Economy and Environmental Impact at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, echoed this sentiment, calling the lab a commitment to science-backed policy and circular economy principles that reduce waste, boost resource efficiency, and support climate resilience.
At its core, Living Lab ITB-PISCES is a systems-based response to plastic pollution—one that integrates science, behavior, policy, and infrastructure. It’s designed to be a learning center for local governments and a testing ground for startups and NGOs aiming to scale sustainable waste solutions. With Indonesia aiming to reduce marine plastic debris by 70% by 2025, initiatives like this are critical. As Prof. Susan Jobling, lead researcher of the PISCES Programme from Brunel University London, noted, the challenge is immense—but so is the opportunity for innovation. The lab stands as proof that when knowledge meets collaboration, real change becomes possible.