(FEB NEWS) The Japan Design Idea and Invention Expo (JDIE) is an international expo organized by the World Invention Intellectual Property Associations and Chizal Corporation on July 7-8, 2023. This expo took place at the Ariake Garden Conference Center in Tokyo, Japan, and was attended by 25 other countries. There were around 350 works exhibited in various fields of the latest technology. In this expo, there were two (2) Accounting students of FEB UNAIR who participated by presenting an innovative product they called NaNaRe. NaNaRe is a replacement packaging for styrofoam made from sugarcane and seaweed waste. This product is the result of three months of research with various trials that have been carried out. As a result, they succeeded in creating an environmentally friendly (eco-friendly), non-toxic, biodegradable, economical, and safe to use packaging.
Proudly, two Accounting students from FEB Unair successfully won the Gold Medal at the Japan Design Idea and Invention Expo with their innovative product entitled “NaNaRe: Sustainable and Antimicrobial Food Container Made from Bagasse and Seaweed as an Alternative to Styrofoam.” This award is a recognition of their efforts in creating an environmentally friendly packaging solution that also has antimicrobial properties.
Their achievements didn't stop there, as they also received a Special Award from Japan. This award further recognized the innovative value of their product and its contribution to promoting the use of renewable materials and environmental protection. Along the way, the two students faced significant challenges, and NaNaRe experienced several failures before finally securing their product in Japan.
Their success in winning the Gold Medal and Special Award is clear evidence that innovation and continuous efforts in developing environmentally friendly products are highly valued and recognized by the international community. Their achievements not only bring pride to their university but also inspire students and the wider community to continue seeking creative solutions to preserve the environment and create a sustainable future.
Abdul Rohman, representing UNAIR Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) students, explained, "The research process we undertook for NaNaRe was very lengthy and required in-depth research. Our role in this research is crucial in analyzing the product's sustainability. Another motivation that drove us to be involved in this innovation is the public's need for sturdy and biodegradable food packaging."
Furthermore, Kevin Gilang Ardiansyah, who is also a representative of our team, added, “In the process of developing NaNaRe, we recognized the importance of collaboration and the use of environmentally friendly materials. We are committed to producing products that are not only innovative, but also sustainable. NaNaRe is our answer to the problem of Styrofoam use that is detrimental to the environment. We hope this product can provide a safe and responsible solution for the community, as well as make a positive contribution to environmental conservation.”
The Gold Medal awarded by the Japan Design Idea and Invention Expo is a truly impressive and proud achievement for the FEB UNAIR student team. This affirms NaNaRe's international recognition for its excellence as an innovative solution to replace environmentally unfriendly Styrofoam.
This achievement not only strengthens the reputation of the FEB UNAIR student team but also inspires other students and the community to continue innovating and creating creative, environmentally friendly solutions. NaNaRe has demonstrated extraordinary potential in addressing current environmental challenges and serves as a positive example for sustainable products in the future.
Japan Design Idea and Invention Expo (JDIE) is an international expo organized by the World Invention Intellectual Property Associations and Chizal Corporation on July 7-8, 2023. This Expo activity was held at the Ariake Garden Conference Center Tokyo Japan and was attended by 25 other countries with approximately 350 works displayed in various fields of the latest technology. The six-member team led by Sabilla Maidhyana from the Faculty of Marine Fisheries (FPK UNAIR) and members from various faculties, namely Amadeo Lemuel and Muhammad Akmal from the Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidisciplinary (FTMM UNAIR), Heri Prasetyoning Tias from FPK UNAIR, and also Abdul Rohman (S-1 Accounting FEB UNAIR) and Kevin Gilang Ardiansyah (S-1 Accounting FEB UNAIR) made an achievement by also receiving a special award. This team carries a product called NaNaRe, a styrofoam replacement packaging product made from sugarcane and seaweed waste, this product has been researched for approximately three months and has passed various tests until finally succeeded in creating a packaging product that is eco-friendly, non-toxic, biodegradable, economical, and safe to use. "We believe that our product will develop and will become one of the promising startups in the future.", Said Tias, one of the Team members. "We are here to support the mission and vision of the world's SDGs, especially points 8, 12, 13, and also 14," he added.
However, it seems that to achieve this finished product, NaNaRe has experienced failure several times until finally the product they made successfully landed in this cherry blossom country. "Initially we doubted that our product would be successful, but we still stopped being pessimistic and continued to move forward no matter what happened," said Deo, one of the members of NaNaRe. The success and success of NaNaRe cannot be separated from the intervention of Mr. Gunawan and Mrs. Daruti as the supervising lecturers and mentors of the NaNaRe product. It is hoped that from this victory, NaNaRe can be one step further and inspire other male and female students, especially at Universitas Airlangga.