From Waste to Worth: Upcycling Limbah Tutup Botol Plastik Menjadi Gantungan Kunci Bernilai Ekonomi Melalui Pemberdayaan Masyarakat

Abstract

Plastic waste is not only associated with increasing waste volumes but also with the underutilization of materials that still retain functional value. One of these materials is discarded plastic bottle caps. This community engagement activity aimed to improve environmental awareness and participants' skills by transforming used bottle caps into creative keychain products with potential economic value. The activity employed a participatory approach consisting of preparation, education, demonstration, hands-on production, mentoring, and evaluation. A total of 12 participants took part in the activity and produced 30 keychains using discarded plastic bottle caps. Participants were directly involved in the production process, allowing the activity to provide not only an understanding of waste utilization but also practical experience in transforming used materials into creative products. The activity is consistent with the circular economy principle, which promotes waste reduction, reuse, and recycling to retain resource value for as long as possible. Therefore, bottle-cap upcycling can serve as a simple alternative for improving environmental awareness, creativity, and the potential development of a creative economy based on locally available resources.