Dr. Magdalena Lenny Situmorang, the lecturer in the course, moderated the guest lecture via the Zoom platform. David started his presentation by explaining how Evo & Co. operate and the values they hold. He argued that humans contribute to environmental damage by producing waste and pollution. Humans carry the burden of the consequences. This is exemplified by a linear economy system that is unsustainable in terms of natural resource use, manufacturing, and consumption.

The solution is to implement a circular economy system that mimics how the earth's resources are processed. From there, David founded Evo & Co with the goal of creating a plastic-free society by innovating and collaborating on sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.

Currently available seaweed-based products include Ello Jello and several types of seaweed-based packaging, ranging from seasoning wraps that degrade with hot water to biodegradable plastic bags and sheets.

Evo & Co has not only pioneered products, but has also boosted public environmental awareness through a number of campaigns. 

"Basically," David said, "we can't tackle problems with the same mindset that produced the problem."

Reporter: Najma Shafiya (Teknologi Pascapanen, 2020)