Ahmad Arro’uf Sulfuadi, Ferdian Anugrah Pratama, and Muhammad Imam Baihaqi are students in the Industrial Engineering Program, Faculty of Industrial Technology (FTI), Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII). They achieved success at the Sustainable Innovations Essay Competition (SINEC) 2025. The team successfully became finalists and received the Most Implementable Idea award (Bronze Medal). Moreover, their work was also published in the IASSF journal. SINEC is a national scientific essay competition focused on sustainable innovations and solutions. This competition encourages students to create creative ideas to address challenges in the environment, education, economy, health, and technology. The event took place on August 9 and 10, 2025, in Yogyakarta.
At the SINEC event, the team addressed environmental and sustainability issues through a paper titled “Development of NARA Biodegradable Journaling Books as a Circular Economy-Based Solution for Sustainable Lifestyle Transformation and Social Empowerment.” The paper discusses the development of biodegradable journals made from corn husk waste and recycled paper. Based on the circular economy, this product is designed as a sustainable lifestyle solution that supports the social empowerment of local farmers.
In-Depth Research Forms the Foundation of NARA’s Work
The SINEC 2025 series began with registration and essay submission from April 7 to May 31, 2025. This was followed by a judging phase, which concluded with the final round in Yogyakarta. Preparing for this competition required significant effort. The team conducted in-depth research on sustainable product development, the circular economy, and Voice of Customer (VoC). The team also collected data through a questionnaire distributed to students in the Yogyakarta. This activity was conducted to understand user needs regarding sustainable journaling products.
The preparation process also included developing the NARA product concept and creating scientific posters. In addition, the team drafted scientific articles and practiced presentations intensively. Each team member contributed according to their respective expertise. Their roles ranged from conceptualization and methodology development to delivering presentations during the competition. Throughout this process, the team received guidance and feedback from their advisor, Dr. Dwi Adi Purnama, S.T.
Integrating Sustainability and User Needs: The Team’s Biggest Challenge
The team’s biggest challenge lies in balancing environmental sustainability with the product’s user needs. The team ensured that NARA isn’t merely eco-friendly but is also genuinely appealing and meets the needs of students as the target users. Another challenge the team faced was the process of drafting the scientific article. This process required extra precision in literature review and the development of academic arguments.
To overcome these challenges, the team implemented various feasible solutions, such as open communication, task division, regular discussions, and periodic revisions. Additionally, consultations with academic advisors and research mentors helped refine the work. The team’s hard work ultimately produced remarkable achievements. They not only won a Bronze Medal, but also had their work accepted for publication in the IASSSF journal. This achievement served as a valuable experience for the team in honing their academic skills and scientific writing abilities.
Proud to Discover Creative Ideas from All Over the Country

For the team, SINEC 2025 was not just a competition, but a space for growth filled with valuable experiences. Meeting participants from various regions who brought new ideas was one of the most memorable moments during the competition. Participating in this competition also broadened their academic horizons while strengthening their confidence in presenting scientific ideas. One team member, Ferdian, shared a message drawn from his personal experience.
“Don’t be afraid to try entering a competition, because every process you go through will always bring new experiences and lessons. You don’t have to be great right from the start, but you must dare to begin in order to grow,” said Ferdian.
The bold steps taken by this team prove that the courage to try can open up opportunities that were previously unimaginable. Hopefully, their journey at SINEC 2025 can inspire other students to never hesitate to explore opportunities.
Nisrina Nur Masrefa





















