en.Malanginspirasi.com – A student of Faculty of Computer Science (Filkom) Brawijaya University (UB) , Muhammad Alhafiz Arya Wardhana won third place at the International Project Innovation Competition in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday (February 13, 2026) as he created prosthetics from plastic waste.
The International Project Innovation Competition is an international innovation event that brings together participants from various countries to present projects that solve global problems.
Known as Arya, he collaborated with two international students from Uzbekistan and the United States, as well as one from Indonesia. They successfully created PROBAPLAS.
“PROBAPLAS (Prosthetic from Plastic Waste) is an innovation that focuses on utilizing HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) waste, such as bottle caps and used jerry cans, as raw materials for making prosthetic sockets, the main component of prosthetics,” Arya explained.
He further explained that the idea arose from two major interrelated problems: limited access to prosthetic devices for people with disabilities due to their relatively high cost and their reliance on imported raw materials for production.
Furthermore, HDPE plastic waste is abundant, and its decomposition takes a long time, often ending up in landfills and polluting the environment.
“Based on conducted research with technology partners, the recycled HDPE used meets the minimum standards for prosthetic materials, namely a tensile strength of 26-33 MPa. Furthermore, the use of recycled materials can reduce the cost of raw materials to $2 per unit. Thus, our innovation successfully addresses two major problems at once,” Arya continued.
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He explained that besides the material and manufacturing aspects, PROBAPLAS also integrates a circular economy approach, namely the development of a gamification-based digital waste bank system.
The public can deposit HDPE plastic waste at the waste unit and earn points that are digitally recorded and converted into economic value.
“Most importantly, this project doesn’t stop at the research or competition stage. We’ve begun implementing a direct prosthetic production model through collaboration with prosthetic partners and disability empowerment communities. Some of our prosthetics have already been distributed to those in need,” he added.
Arya’s supervisor, Dr. Maurish Sofie Rahmi Batita, S.Pd., M.Ed., said Arya’s idea was an interesting development.
“The idea and prototype that Arya and his team developed could become a superior product for people with disabilities, while still maintaining environmental awareness,” he said.
