IPB University Champions Sustainability Through Student-Led Initiatives

At IPB University, the belief that significant change stems from small, consistent actions is at the heart of the Sustainable Solution Champions (SSC) initiative.

 

Central to this initiative is the Eco Journey program, which challenges students to engage in sustainable practices daily for 30 consecutive days.

 

Dr. Rina Mardiana, the program's initiator, emphasized the importance of individual moral actions in fostering collective strength aligned with IPB's vision of harmony among people, nature, and the Creator.

 

She stated, "Change cannot happen without starting with individual moral actions."

 

The program unfolds in two phases: the initial formation of a sustainable lifestyle character, followed by the development of voluntary sustainability habits as awareness transforms into routine.

 

Over the month-long journey, participants engage in four key activities: Anti-Food Waste, Planet-X, EcoWalk, and BioDiscovery.

 

These initiatives focus on simple lifestyle changes with significant environmental impacts.

 

Daily reflective journaling is also encouraged to enhance self-awareness and evaluation.

 

One participant, Nasywa Aulia Artha, shared her experience with the Anti-Food Waste action.

 

"After reflective journaling, I realized that I had been wasting food.

 

In 30 days, my total food waste reached about one and a half kilograms.

 

From there, I learned to manage my consumption more wisely.

 

Together with the group, we also made compost from food waste in the campus cafeteria," she said.

 

Another participant, Wafa, noted that the initiative heightened her gratitude and environmental sensitivity.

 

"From this action, I learned to take only enough food and process ingredients that were almost thrown away into new dishes.

 

It's not just about waste, but also about gratitude and responsibility towards natural resources," she said.

 

Dr. Rina concluded that the evaluation is not about passing or failing but about being honest with oneself regarding the commitment to sustainable habits.

 

"This is not merely a technical evaluation, but a process of crystallizing values and character," she said.

 

IPB University's dedication to sustainability is further evidenced by its recent achievements.

 

The university was ranked 29th globally in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2024, an improvement from 34th place in 2023.

 

Additionally, IPB secured the top position in ASEAN for Environmental Education in the QS Sustainability Ranking 2025.

 

These accolades reflect the university's unwavering commitment to integrating sustainability into its core culture and operations.

 

Through initiatives like the SSC and Eco Journey, IPB University continues to inspire and cultivate a community dedicated to sustainable living and environmental stewardship.