From Waste to Value: Driving Sustainable Innovation with Orin Hardy at IPMI PowerTalk

From Waste to Value: Driving Sustainable Innovation with Orin Hardy at IPMI PowerTalk

As part of the IPMI PowerTalk Series held on 27 June 2026, IPMI Institute presented a compelling session on sustainability and innovation through a parallel discussion led by Orin Hardy, a global practitioner in circular economy and sustainable business.

In his session titled “From Waste to Resource: Building Circular Business in a Resource-Constrained Economy,” Orin Hardy shared his journey in transforming waste into high-value products through circular manufacturing. Known for his work in converting used chopsticks into durable and marketable materials, he demonstrated how sustainability can go beyond environmental responsibility and become a core driver of business innovation.

The session opened with welcoming remarks from IPMI management, setting the stage for a discussion that bridged theory and practice. Orin emphasized that in a world where resources are increasingly limited, businesses must rethink traditional linear models and shift toward circular approaches that maximize resource efficiency and minimize waste.

Participants were introduced to practical frameworks on how to design sustainable business models, identify hidden value in waste streams, and create scalable impact-driven enterprises. More importantly, the session highlighted that sustainability is not only about compliance or corporate responsibility, but also about unlocking new competitive advantages.

Moderated by Dr. Ir. Amelia Naim, MBA, the discussion became highly interactive as participants explored questions related to implementation challenges, market readiness, and the role of innovation in driving sustainable growth. The session also sparked meaningful conversations on how emerging markets, including Indonesia, can adopt circular economy principles in various industries.

This PowerTalk session reflected IPMI Institute’s strong commitment to advancing knowledge in sustainability and encouraging future business leaders to think beyond profit. By integrating real-world insights from global practitioners, IPMI continues to support the development of impactful and responsible business practices.

Through this session, participants gained not only inspiration but also actionable insights on how businesses can turn environmental challenges into opportunities, paving the way toward a more sustainable and resilient future.

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-Public Relations-