Inspired by Bandung's Textile Waste Challenge
The team's award-winning idea stemmed from their research on optimizing the treatment of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste generated by the textile industry, particularly from the growing thrifting sector. The concept was inspired by their concern over the increasing popularity of fast fashion and second-hand clothing consumption, which has contributed to the accumulation of unmanaged textile waste, such as that commonly found in the Cimol Gedebage Market in Bandung.

According to Sandi, existing textile waste treatment methods still face significant limitations.

"Mechanical and chemical recycling processes generally require high energy consumption and extensive use of chemicals. In addition, the quality of recycled fibers often declines," he explained.

To address these challenges, the TriPETase Team proposed a smart bioindustry concept based on enzymatic recycling. Their approach utilizes the mutant enzyme variant IsPETase W159H/F229Y to break down textile polymer chains into high-purity monomers, namely terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG).

Through this innovation, the team hopes to contribute to advances in biological engineering while supporting the implementation of a more sustainable circular economy.

Overcoming Challenges Through Teamwork
Developing the proposal was not without obstacles. In addition to balancing their academic responsibilities and final projects, the team had to explore new areas of knowledge, including large-scale industrial system design and bioreactor parameter optimization, topics that are not extensively covered in the core curriculum of the Postharvest Technology Study Program.

To overcome these challenges, each team member took on specific responsibilities based on their expertise. Sandi focused on cell transformation and bioreactor optimization, while Shinta and Ridho handled the pre-treatment and product purification stages. The team also strengthened their concept through extensive literature reviews and in silico computer simulations.

^{Group photo of the winners of the Edutalk Fair Competition 2026.}

The team's achievement was also made possible through the support of many individuals. On behalf of the team, Sandi expressed his sincere appreciation to Arvin (Oceanography, Class of 2020) and Ismet (Biotechnology, Class of 2024) for their valuable guidance throughout the development of the project.

In closing, Sandi expressed his hope that their achievement would inspire more students to pursue innovation and participate in academic competitions.

"There are countless opportunities for students to turn their ideas into reality beyond the classroom. Keep innovating, because even a small step can create a positive impact on the environment around us," he concluded.

Reporter: Aura Salsabila Alviona (Bioteknologi, 2025)