ECOTHON (short for Eco-Entrepreneurs’ Marathon) is a business model competition co-organised by ASEIC and HSF since 2019 for promising eco-entrepreneurs who have innovative business ideas aimed at achieving the SDG12 “Sustainable Consumption and Production” (SCP). The competition aims at supporting the realisation of promising green business ideas and raising public awareness of SCP among local communities, including both producers and consumers, in ASEAN countries. This year, the competition is organised in six countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
With the support from international and local trainers and mentors during the intensive 36-hour Boot Camp, 11 competent teams from Indonesia had chances to sharpen their amazing sustainable business ideas aimed at tackling challenges of climate change in Indonesia and other ASEAN countries by facilitating SCP and the transition to a circular economy in various sectors such as waste management, energy, retailing, packaging, handicraft, food and agriculture.
With the PANDORA (Pusat Industri Daur Oelang Rumahan) model – a waste processing center featuring several technologies including plastic machines, FAME machines and carbonizer, the early start-up BANANA & Partners has convincingly won first prize of the ECOTHON Indonesia this year. Second prize went to Agroyasa Palofari Industri – an early start-up who produces organic fertiliser to solve the problem of acid land and post-nickel mining in Indonesia. Third prize was awarded to the early-stage start-up CocoVine with the business model of producing natural preservatives from coconut water waste.
The next competition of the ECOTHON series is scheduled from 3rd to 5th August in Malaysia.