PRASETIYA MULYA MOLDING ECO-BRICKS TO WIN BUSINESS CONTEST

Novia D. Rulistia ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sun, 05/17/2009 1:37 PM  |  Discover

Equipped with eco-friendly integrated business plan, six-piece EcoFaebrik team of graduate students from Prasetiya Mulya School of Business was crowned as the best team in the international business plan competition.

The team, comprising Indri Yuni Handayani, Masrselina, Fika Nurfitriyana, Teuku Winnetou, Erma Melina Sarahwati and Yusuf Aria Putera, defeated nine teams from distinguished business schools in the Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC) 2009 held in University of California, Berkeley, United States on April 23-35.

GSCV is an annual international business plan competition which requires its contestants to prepare a business plan with significant impact and benefits to the communities.

Among other contestants were London Business School, George Washington University School of Business, ESSEC Business School in France and Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

Before going to the final round in the US, EcoFaebrik had first competed in the regional round held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Ecofaebrik presented a business plan of brick production made from cattle waste.

"After conducting some research that cattle waste can be a resource to make a brick, we then decided to make one ourselves," Erma said, adding that the team was initially formed for their final study task.

She said that her family owned a small cow farm which could be used for her team's project. Ecofaebrik then met Syammahfuz, the owner of an organic pottery store Faerumnesia in Yogyakarta.

"At first, Faerumnesia only produced handicrafts from waste, such as vase, lamps and cute ornaments. So we had an idea to make something related to people's primary needs, and brick is one of them," Erma said.

Besides helping to reduce environmental degradation resulted from the excessive use of clay, the raw material of brick, it also helps manage waste and reduce stench from the cattle waste.

The price of the brick would also be affordable thanks to its lower production cost as in the burning process, they use methane bio-gas instead of wood, and less pollution as well.

In their business plan, Erma said, they targeted to have around 18,000 bricks produced in a day.

"We've also calculated that the targeted number will be in line with the increasing demand of bricks as the construction of houses and commercial premises will also increase," she said.

Although they still need to finish their master degree until October this year, they would realize their plan by also working together with local communities and cooperatives.

"But before that, we also need to find investor and of course do some tests for the brick to get a required certification of quality," said Erma.

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