Muhammad Fauzal Rizki and Hana Purnawarman, Turning Waste into Carbon Products

Together with Mycotech Lab (MYCL), a startup company from Bandung, West Java, Sampangan based in Bekasi successfully obtained a grant of 250,000 Singapore dollars or around Rp 2.9 billion at the Philanthropy Asia Summit (PAS) 2024 in Singapore on April 15-17.

Sampangan together with MYCL and three other startup companies from the United States, Hong Kong and the Philippines were selected as participants in the first group of the mentoringamplifier (amplifier) ​​program. This program is organized by The Center for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP) and the Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA), which is an ecosystem entity of Temasek Trust, Singapore.

Why did we start this business because we saw that waste was a big problem in Indonesia.

Muhammad Fauzal Rizki stated that since its establishment, Sampangan has been focusing on waste management. Coincidentally, their business location is also near the Integrated Waste Management Site (TPST) in Bantargebang, Bekasi.

Also read: Two "Start Up" Innovators from Indonesia Receive Funding Injections

"When we established Sampangan, we didn't know what circular economy was. Basically, we just wanted to turn trash into something useful. We started this business because we saw that waste had become a big problem in Indonesia," said Fauzal, during an interview at the PAS 2024 event held at the Expo Sands & Convention Centre in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, on Tuesday (16/4/2024).

According to Fauzal, they are trying to solve a very large and complex waste problem. This is because the solution to Indonesia's waste problem so far has been recycling, not waste processing. However, recycling only utilizes less than 10 percent of the total waste produced.

"We started processing waste with technology, which is called carbonization technology, using a machine called The Magic Box," said Fauzal, founder and Chief Executive Officer ( CEO) This Sampangan.

Magic box

The Magic Box is a waste processing machine created by Dr. Ishenny Mohd Noor, Fauzal's father. The machine can process all types of organic and inorganic waste, even if they are mixed. The results of the process are high-value products, such as activated carbon.

Fauzal said that the way The Magic Box works is similar to a rice cooker. However, the main source of energy is not from fuel oil or electricity, but from the potential energy of the waste that is put into it. The machine can convert waste into heat energy in the process.

"Because the process involves heating, we do not burn the waste at all. If the waste is burned, the emissions are numerous and dangerous. Because this is heating, the emissions are very low. This process is also very environmentally friendly," he said.

Also read: Adi Reza and Annisa Wibi, Worldwide Innovation in Skin from Mushroom Fibers

He said that organic waste processed with The Magic Box would become active carbon and liquid carbon fertilizer. Meanwhile, plastic waste will become crude oil, then processed again into biocatalysts.

”Biocatalysts are used as input into machines. "Biocatalysts can reduce engine energy requirements so that energy efficiency occurs," he said.

He stated that one Magic Box machine with a capacity of 1-5 tons per day only requires 3 kilowatt-hours (kWh). That is equivalent to the use of one room cooler (AC) unit.

"The electricity cost for our factory is only Rp 1 million per month. That is the essence of the technology design that we have, low energy, low emissions, but with a high selling value," he said.

Agricultural waste

According to Fauzal, Sampangan's main activity currently is producing activated carbon. The product is shaped like charcoal, but its properties differ from charcoal because it cannot be burned and has a high absorption capacity.

We collect agricultural waste that is usually discarded and burned because it has no value. We transform it into products with high market value.

In everyday life, activated carbon is used to treat diarrhea (norit), water treatment, car tires, batteries, and so on. Industrial applications for activated carbon are very broad.

"We see it as a business opportunity that can be commercially sustainable and have an impact on the environment and society. Therefore, we take agricultural waste that is usually discarded and burned because it has no value. We turn it into a product with high selling value," he said.

According to Fauzal, there is no longer a need to educate people on the use of activated carbon as it is already common in daily life. "Commercially, we can also see its impact quickly," he said.

Hana Purnawarman as co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Sampangan said that they built Sampangan because they believed that this startup could create prosperity for everyone while doing good for the environment from the most abundant resource on earth, namely waste. or waste.

"We have made various things from trash. Initially, we made low-carbon construction materials, such as those used for the Simple Healthy Instant Housing (RISHA) from the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing," he said.

Fauzal stated that Sampangan's business focus is currently on producing activated carbon for water treatment in various industries. The raw materials are from agricultural waste, especially from coconut and corn waste. The waste is easily obtained from the West Java region.

"The capacity of activated carbon production in our factory is currently around 10 tons per month. Meanwhile, the demand for activated carbon in our contracts can reach 25 to 40 tons per month. Therefore, the demand is still greater than the available capacity," he said.

Because of this, Fauzal and Hana are determined to utilize the amplifier program to increase production capacity in order to fulfill sales contracts. Apart from that, it is also for business development so that it can penetrate regional or export markets, as well as trying to obtain Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) certification.

"The name Sampangan contains the philosophy of converting waste into food. With carbonization technology, we want to transform waste into various environmentally-friendly and high-value products," said Fauzal.

Muhammad Fauzal Rizki

Occupation: Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sampangan

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, University of Malaya, Malaysia

Hana Purnawarman

Occupation: Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Sampangan

Education: Bachelor of Architecture, University of Malaya, Malaysia