Eco Run (Plogging): Implementing Green Industry Practices In Elementary School Sports

Abstract

The issue of rising national waste volumes particularly plastic waste poses a serious challenge for Indonesia. Data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) for 2023 indicates that total national waste generation reached 56.63 million tons, with only 39.01% successfully managed, while plastic waste accounted for nearly 20% of that total volume. This situation underscores the need for early environmental education delivered through activities that are both practical and enjoyable. Plogging an activity combining running with picking up litter offers an integrated solution that merges physical exercise with environmental conservation efforts. This study employs a qualitative descriptive approach to provide an in-depth description of the ECO RUN (plogging) activity conducted at SDN Sukasari 7, which involved 42 student participants. The study’s novelty lies in integrating plogging into Physical Education, Sports, and Health (PJOK) lessons as an application of the "green industry" concept, thereby providing a physical activity-based model for implementing the green industry concept. The research aims to describe the implementation of the ECO RUN (plogging) at the elementary school level, analyze its impact on students' environmental awareness, and identify how green industry principles are applied through sports activities. The implementation of the Eco-Run (plogging) as a practical application of the "Green Industry" concept within the Physical Education, Sports, and Health (PJOK) curriculum was successful and received positive responses from both teachers and students. The activity effectively combined physical exercise with environmental education by fostering the habit of running or walking while collecting and sorting waste; consequently, it not only improved physical fitness but also cultivated environmental awareness, responsibility, cooperation, and proper waste-disposal habits. Teachers considered this experiential learning approach more effective than purely theoretical instruction, as it provided students with real-world experience in maintaining environmental cleanliness, while students demonstrated high enthusiasm and positive behavioral changes in both school and home environments. Based on data triangulation, Eco-Run (Plogging) is considered a Green Industry-based innovative learning model suitable for primary schools, as it successfully integrates Physical Education (PJOK) learning objectives with environmental education, fosters an environmentally conscious mindset, and supports Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) goals through active, contextual, and experience-oriented learning