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Indonesia is the world’s second largest contributor of plastic waste entering the oceans, where it degrades into microplastics smaller than 1 micron. The use of bioplastics is therefore essential to mitigate environmental pollution. One promising alternative is starch–cellulose blend bioplastic derived from empty fruit bunches (EFB) of oil palm. Indonesia produces about 56.35 million tons of EFB annually, containing approximately 40% cellulose, which makes it a potential raw material for bioplastic production, although commercialization has not yet been realized. Environmentally, converting EFB into bioplastics within the palm oil value chain represents a sustainable waste recycling strategy that transforms solid residues into higher-value products. In this design, soda cooking technology is employed to extract cellulose from EFB, utilizing about 16% of waste from a crude palm oil (CPO) mill with a capacity of 30 tons of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) per hour. The starch–cellulose blend bioplastic pellets are formulated using gelatinized cassava starch as the polymer matrix, glycerol as a plasticizer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a stabilizer, and cellulose as a filler. The designed production capacity of the EFB-based starch–cellulose bioplastic plant is 16,500 tons per year. This bioplastic industry is expected to contribute positively to achieving eight Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goals 1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17, thereby supporting Indonesia’s commitment to sustainable industrial development and a cleaner environment.

This study aims to analyze the effect of workload, leadership style, and compensation on employee performance at PT Ungaran Sari Garment, Semarang Regency. This quantitative research involved 109 respondents selected using the Slovin formula and purposive sampling. Data were collected using Likert-scale questionnaires and analyzed through multiple linear regression with SPSS 21. The results show that workload and compensation positively and significantly influence employee performance, while leadership style has no significant effect. Simultaneously, all three variables significantly affect performance. These findings indicate that appropriate workload management and a fair compensation system are vital for improving employee performance.

This research aims to formulate a strategy to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs in East Java, supporting their independence. Using a descriptive qualitative method, data collection involved observation, interviews, and documentation. Key informants included SME actors, relevant agency officials, representatives from SME Banks in East Java, and academics. The analysis revealed that the strategy for enhancing competitiveness focuses on adopting digital marketing, product and process innovation, and strengthening partnerships with government, financial institutions, and large companies to expand market access and resources. Sustainability is supported by effective financial management, compliance with legal requirements, and potential circular economy practices for resource efficiency. The strategy for independence emphasizes entrepreneurship training, mentoring, easier access to capital, and facilitating business matching and exhibitions for market expansion. The government and supporting institutions play a vital role in creating a conducive ecosystem. The relationship between competitiveness, sustainability, and independence is synergistic: increasing competitiveness enhances sustainability, which in turn stabilizes the business environment. Independence allows SMEs to be proactive in achieving both competitiveness and sustainability. With sustained support, East Java's SMEs have significant growth potential, contributing to the economy, but policies, empowerment programs, and resource access facilitation will be crucial to realizing their full potential.

This study elaborates on the concept of humanism in Islamic educational philosophy by highlighting in greater depth the role of humans as caliphs on earth. Humanism from an Islamic perspective not only focuses on humans as rational beings but also emphasizes the moral, spiritual, and social responsibilities inherent in the mandate of the caliphate. This study applies a qualitative approach with a literature study, where data is obtained from various written sources such as scientific articles and academic publications that discuss humanism in Islamic education and the concept of the human caliphate. The data collection process is carried out through searching, selecting, and organizing literature relevant to the focus of the study. The collected data are then analyzed using descriptive-qualitative techniques through the stages of simplifying information, grouping findings, and formulating systematic conclusions. The results of the study indicate that the position of humans as caliphs requires the development of intellectual, ethical, and spiritual potential in an integrated manner in the educational process. Therefore, Islamic education needs to be directed towards a holistic humanization process, which not only strengthens reasoning and social character but also fosters a transcendental awareness of human relationships with God, fellow humans, and nature. Thus, humanism in Islamic education is not secular, liberal, or anthropocentric, but is firmly rooted in divine values ​​that harmoniously unite the divine and human dimensions.

This study aims to examine the effects of service quality and product quality on customer satisfaction and purchase decisions, as well as the mediating role of customer satisfaction. The population consists of Shopee users in Semarang City (January–May 2025). Using the Lemeshow formula, 97 respondents were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a 5-point Likert questionnaire and analyzed with SEM-AMOS. The findings show that both service quality and product quality significantly increase customer satisfaction. Service quality and product quality have positive but insignificant direct effects on purchase decisions, while customer satisfaction has a significant positive effect on purchase decisions. Customer satisfaction also significantly mediates the influence of service quality and product quality on purchase decisions. These results underline the crucial mediating role of satisfaction in shaping consumer purchasing behavior on digital platforms like Shopee.

Employee retention is a crucial aspect in maintaining smooth operations and the quality of human resources within an organization. This study aims to analyze the influence of organizational support, career development, job satisfaction, organizational culture, and work-life balance on production employee retention at PT. Lucky Textile Semarang. The study employed a quantitative approach with a survey method, distributing questionnaires to 307 respondents, selected using the Slovin formula, from a population of 1,325 production employees. Data analysis was performed using multiple linear regression using IBM SPSS Statistics 27. The results indicate that organizational support has no effect on employee retention, career development has a positive and significant effect on employee retention, job satisfaction has a positive and significant effect on employee retention, organizational culture has a positive and significant effect on employee retention, and work-life balance has a positive and significant effect on employee retention. These findings confirm that internal factors related to personal development, job satisfaction, and a healthy work culture are the most important factors in employee retention decisions. Therefore, companies need to prioritize career advancement strategies, improve working conditions, and strengthen organizational culture to maintain a competent workforce in the long term.

The purpose of this research is to formulate a model for the Strategy to Enhance Competitiveness and Sustainability of SMEs in Supporting Independence in East Java. The research method is descriptive qualitative. Data collection techniques include observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis techniques use 1) Data reduction, 2) Data display, 3) Data triangulation, 4) Data verification. The informant determination technique uses indepth interviews with key informants such as SME actors, relevant agency officials, representatives from East Java's SME Banks, and academics. The results of data analysis and literature review indicate that the Strategy to Enhance Competitiveness of SMEs in East Java focuses on the adoption of digital marketing (utilization of social media, marketplaces, and e-commerce), product and process innovation (development of unique and quality products, production efficiency), as well as strengthening partnerships and collaborations with various parties (government, financial institutions, large companies) to expand market access and resources. The strategy for enhancing the sustainability of MSMEs in East Java heavily relies on prudent financial management practices (cash flow management, access to affordable financing such as Prokesra and Dagulir), compliance with legal and certification requirements (PIRT, halal, BPOM), as well as the potential implementation of circular economy concepts for resource efficiency and waste reduction. The strategy supporting the independence of MSMEs in East Java focuses on a comprehensive empowerment program, including entrepreneurship training and intensive mentoring for capacity building, ease of access to capital, and facilitation of business matching and exhibitions/bazaars for network and market expansion. The active role of the government and supporting institutions is crucial in creating a conducive ecosystem. The relationship between competitiveness, sustainability, and independence of SMEs is synergistic and mutually reinforcing. Increasing competitiveness directly contributes to economic sustainability. Sustainability creates stability that allows SMEs to continue innovating and enhancing their competitiveness. Meanwhile, independence empowers SMEs to be proactive in achieving competitiveness and sustainability, with the ability to make strategic decisions and adapt to changes. Overall, SMEs in East Java have great potential to continue growing and contributing to the economy. However, sustained support through appropriate policies, relevant empowerment programs, and facilitation of access to essential resources will be key to realizing SMEs that are not only competitive and sustainable but also fully independent.

Equal access to health services is a fundamental right of citizens. However, vulnerable groups such as beggars are often neglected because they do not have valid residence documents. The Medan City Government launched the Medan Berkah Health Insurance Program (JKMB) to support universal Health Coverage, allowing free health services only with a Medan ID card. This study aims to assess the implementation of JKMB on beggars in Medan City by using the implementation suitability model from David C. Korten, which emphasizes the relationship between programs, organizations, and beneficiaries. The method used is a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collection through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation studies. Informants consisted of beggars without identity who had been disciplined by Social Services, program Implementation officers, and academics in the field of social welfare. The results showed that JKMB can only be accessed by beggars while under the supervision of Social Services, through temporary identities such as "Mr. X". After being repatriated (reunification), access to health services cannot be continued due to the absence of An ID. The Program has not been able to reach marginalized groups on an ongoing basis, and there has been no integration of cross-sector data systems. The findings expose the discrepancy between program design and Target conditions, highlighting the importance of more inclusive policy reformulation, facilitation of identity ownership, and inter-agency coordination to create equitable and sustainable health access for all citizens