SWARA 2025  - Sustainability in Waste Awareness and Responsible Action Awards 2025

SWARA Information Note
SWARA Submission Form

INTRODUCTION

Environmental challenges in Southeast Asia are becoming increasingly complex, with food waste identified as a significant and growing concern. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), organic waste—including food waste—accounts for approximately 50–60% of total household waste in many Southeast Asian countries, making it the largest contributor to landfills in metropolitan areas such as Jakarta, Bangkok, and Manila (UNEP, 2021; WWF, 2020).

The impact of food waste goes far beyond landfill overflow. It undermines food security, accelerates greenhouse gas emissions, and results in significant economic losses. Despite these consequences, public awareness of food waste remains relatively low, especially among youth populations. A key factor is the lack of creative, inclusive, and participatory approaches to education and communication on the issue (FAO, 2019).

SEAMEO BIOTROP (Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Tropical Biology), as a SEAMEO Regional Centre hosted by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education of Indonesia, is committed to being a catalyst for change through education, innovation, and regional collaboration. We recognize that effectively reaching diverse audiences—especially young people—requires flexible, engaging, and contextualized messaging that can inspire real change.

In alignment with this mission, SEAMEO BIOTROP is launching the SWARA Awards 2025 (Sustainability in Waste Awareness and Responsible Action Awards), a Southeast Asia-wide recognition program. SWARA aims to promote, document, and replicate best practices in reducing and managing food waste. Through this initiative, we hope to empower individuals, institutions, and communities to create impactful, sustainable solutions to one of the region’s most urgent environmental challenges.

OBJECTIVES

This initiative is designed to strengthen public awareness and collective action across Southeast Asia in preserving tropical ecosystems. Specifically, the SWARA Awards 2025 aim to:

• Identify and recognize best practices in food waste reduction and management across Southeast Asia.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange among countries and relevant stakeholders.
• Encourage greater institutional, community, and governmental commitment to addressing food waste.
• Establish a regional network of innovators and practitioners in sustainable food waste solutions.

THEMES

The 2025 SWARA Awards carry the central theme “Food-waste Education and Awareness for Sustainable Transformation,” which reflects the urgent need to shift public behavior, institutional practices, and policy perspectives toward sustainable food systems in Southeast Asia.

Food waste is not only an environmental issue—it is a social, economic, and ethical challenge that intersects with food security, climate change, and sustainable development. Through this theme, SWARA emphasizes the importance of education and public awareness as catalytic forces for long-term transformation.

The theme calls for creative, inclusive, and participatory approaches to food waste education—from schools and communities to industry and government. It also highlights the value of storytelling, evidence-based action, and grassroots leadership in fostering systemic change.

By promoting this theme, SEAMEO BIOTROP invites Southeast Asian stakeholders to reimagine waste not as a byproduct, but as an opportunity to build a more responsible, circular, and resilient future—starting with awareness, and leading to collective transformation.

AWARD CATEGORIES AND TARGET PARTICIPANTS

The SWARA Awards 2025 invites active participation from diverse actors across Southeast Asia who have demonstrated tangible commitment to food waste reduction and management. We welcome entries from individuals, communities, educational institutions (schools, universities), NGOs, cooperatives, startups, and innovators who are leading projects, programs, or technologies in this field.

IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM

1. Promotion and Open Call (10 July – 31 August 2025)

• Duration: 6–8 weeks
• Channels: SEAMEO BIOTROP website, SEAMEO network, social media, and regional partner platforms
• Submission Format: Online form, brief proposal, project video (max. 3 minutes), and impact evidence (quantitative and/or qualitative data)

2. Stage I – Desk Review (September 2025)

• Jury Panel: Composed of environmental experts from SEAMEO BIOTROP, SEAMEO Secretariat, food waste management practitioners, and representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), Ministry of Education (Kemendikdasmen), and sponsors
• Assessment Criteria:
  • Innovation and originality
  • Environmental and social impact
  • Scalability and sustainability
  • Validity of documentation and evidence
• Outcome: Announcement of 10–15 finalists

3. Stage II – Finalist Presentations (October 2025)

• Finalists will present their practices in a 10–15 minute session, either via webinar or hybrid event, followed by a Q&A session
• Additional scoring by judges and selected audience

4. Winner Announcement and Awarding Ceremony (November 2025)

• The final awarding may be held as part of a SEAMEO forum or regional environmental conference
• Winners will receive certificates, plaques, and development support packages, which may include funding, mentoring, and publication opportunities.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To ensure a smooth and high-quality judging process, all participants of the SWARA Awards 2025 must comply with the following submission requirements:

1. Submission Format

• The submission form and project video must be submitted via an online form available on the official BIOTROP website: https://link.biotrop.org/SwaraForm
• All sections of the form must be fully completed and accurate

2. Required Documentation

• Program Description: A detailed explanation of the submitted project or initiative, including background, objectives, methodology, and target beneficiaries.
• Evidence of Impact: Attach quantitative and/or qualitative data showing the project’s positive impact—e.g., reduced food waste volume, number of beneficiaries, behavior change indicators, or other success metrics.
• Visual Documentation: Include clear and relevant photos and/or video clips that illustrate the project’s implementation on the ground.
• Sustainability Plan: Describe how the project or initiative will continue to operate and grow, including potential funding strategies or stakeholder support.

3. Originality and Validity

• Entries must showcase implemented, proven best practices, not just concepts or ideas.
• All submitted data and information must be valid and verifiable. The judging panel reserves the right to conduct verification when needed.

4. Language

• All proposals and narrative descriptions must be written in English.

JUDGING PANEL

The SWARA Awards 2025 will be evaluated through a two-stage selection process by a panel composed of experts and representatives from various relevant sectors, including Board of Directors & Environmental specialists from SEAMEO BIOTROP and representatives from SEAMEO Secretariat or other SEAMEO Centres, practitioners in food waste management, representatives from ministries related to education and environment, & Representatives from partner organizations or sponsors (if available).

The panel will assess entries based on predefined criteria, ensuring fairness, transparency, and relevance to the award’s objectives.

TIMELINE

COPYRIGHT AND MEDIA USE

By submitting an entry, participants confirm that they hold full rights to all submitted materials. Participants also grant SEAMEO BIOTROP the right to use any submitted content—including videos, images, and written descriptions—for purposes of promotion, publication, education, and media outreach.

Proper attribution will always be given to the participant or the represented institution. No commercial use will be made of any submission without prior consent.

AWARD CATEGORIES & PRIZES

All winners and finalist will receive:

• Certificate of Achievement
• Official publication in the SWARA Best Practices e-book
• Media exposure and commemorative plaque

CONTACT PERSON

SWARA Awards 2025 Secretariat:
SEAMEO Regional Centre for Tropical Biology (SEAMEO BIOTROP)
Jl. Raya Tajur km 6 Bogor, 16134 Indonesia
Whatsapp: (Ms Kiki) +62 813-1584-3001
https://www.biotrop.org – gau@biotrop.org

Sources & References:

1. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Food Waste Index Report 2021. https://www.unep.org/resources/report/food-waste-index-report-2021
2. WWF. Food Matters Southeast Asia Report 2020. https://www.wwf.sg/foodmatters/
3. FAO. The State of Food and Agriculture 2019: Moving forward on food loss and waste reduction. http://www.fao.org/food-loss-and-food-waste/en/