witnessing firsthand the devastating effects of plastic pollution and environmental neglect on her community as a young Malaysian girl; Sumeshini SubramaniamThe founders of Renergy Bumi hijau decided they wanted to have a lasting impact on the environment through plastic waste innovation and sustainable urban development.
Today, she is one of less than 20 registered professional environmental engineers in Malaysia, with her head and shoulders above her peers. Among other victories, she pioneered the “plastic road” technology and used plastic waste to create green asphalt. Therefore, create an eco-friendly road.
She described her career as “mission-driven,” and described her as a plastic waste advocate and hoping to ignite the painful effects of pollution for other women. She has recently been committed to cleaning up nearly 3 tons of plastic waste in just six months!
She also uses environmental advocacy to inspire others in Malaysia and Southeast Asia and rethink her thinking about waste. “I want people to understand that waste can turn into opportunities for a sustainable future,” she says.
A new approach to waste management and sustainability
Sumeshini believes that technology and social empowerment need to work together to create sustainable solutions for the planet. When she grew up in her profession, she realized that she could only succeed if she was given the authority to step up to become part of the solution. “I strive to help women from marginalized communities to partner with women and help them find empowerment and purpose through sustainability projects. These experiences are more than achievements, the fuel behind my purpose-driven careers, and testament to the change we can create together.”
Among her most notable contributions to becoming a “part of the solution” was her founding Renergy Bumi hijauEnvironmentally savvy business designed to convert plastic waste into green asphalt. “I founded Renergy Bumi hijau to address two pressing issues: plastic waste and economic inequality,” she says. “By converting waste into green asphalt, we turn waste plastic into infrastructure that connects and supports communities. My project not only deals with pollution, but also creates income opportunities, helping women to gain economic independence and find purpose in key missions.”
Sumeshini said the company faced several significant obstacles on its journey but was still successful and impactful. She said it was particularly difficult to get into the market with new products. “Green asphalt is still a novel concept in many regions, and it was not a small feat to be accepted in traditionally conservative industries. It encountered skepticism from stakeholders who questioned the reliability of materials made from recycled plastics, and persuaded them to see the value of this innovation, requiring a tireless commitment to education and transparency.”
Vision for the future
She says that while she still wants a lot, what makes her story unique is the combination of technical expertise and social impact she brings to the industry. “My journey bridges green technology and community empowerment, challenging the current state of sustainability. I hope that my story will inspire people to see real change happening at the intersection of passion, purpose and belief that we can all make a difference.”
Sumeshini dreams of being recognized as a thought leader in the space of green technology and sustainability. And if she continues on the path she is now, it looks like the dreams she had in her heart had in her heart.
Her admiration testifies to her success. More recently, she joined the Youth Climate Initiative Program – Idearabo. She was one of the last 80 participants selected from over 300 applications she received from the Asia-Pacific region. For this reason, she was one of the few elites selected for the next stage of the program.
In December, she was one of 100 members selected for the Global Leadership Challenge 2024 from a global pool of 5,500 applications.
Her leadership skills have not been done without praise. She was in the top three in the global leadership challenge. SDG13: Crown was crowned number one in green asphalt under climate action.
She is also one of 76 community solutions programs selected from around 11,000 applicants to participate in the 2024-2025 Community Solutions program.
To add to this honorable achievement list, she joined the women’s Alpha Startups™. There, her company Renergy Bumi Hijau announced the winners of the 2024 Alpha Startups™ top three startups.
She is also alumni and winner of the 2024 Green Tech Issearia Academy flagship seminar.
These achievements have made her lifelong vision possible to change the environment and enable her to connect with changemakers in Southeast Asia.
She argues that it was a humble beginning in Malaysia, an early experience of seeing the devastation of pollution in her community, and her early experience with a genuine approach to success and real change in the future.
Hope for the future supported by passion from the past
Sumeshini said of her company: There is little access to resources and economic opportunities to improve their lives. ”
She says that Renergi’s initiation Bumihijou was her answer to the effects of plastic waste and pollution on her community that she saw as a child. “The company was my answer to this pain: it’s a way to give plastic waste new purpose, it encourages change and where it is most needed.”
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