Environmental issues,
particularly waste management, have become an urgent global concern that needs
to be addressed immediately. Plastic waste, which is difficult to decompose,
has long-term impacts such as water pollution, ecosystem damage, and threats to
health. Similar conditions also occur in Surabaya City, which, despite
implementing various environmental programs, still faces challenges in
consistently applying zero-waste principles. Schools, as agents of change, have
a strategic role in shaping younger generations to be environmentally
conscious. One effort that can be implemented is through contextual and
applicative learning, such as the application of Project-Based Learning (PjBL)
integrated with the zero-waste concept.
This study aims to
analyze the effect of implementing a zero-waste lifestyle through Project-Based
Learning (PjBL) on students’ environmental care attitudes in the topic of
natural resource utilization at SMP Negeri 12 Surabaya. The research method
used is a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental design. Data were
collected through environmental care attitude questionnaires administered
during the pretest and posttest stages, then analyzed using the N‑Gain
calculation to determine effectiveness. The data sources in this study were
eighth-grade students of SMP Negeri 12 Surabaya, with class VIII-D as the
experimental class and class VIII-J as the control class, determined through
purposive sampling. Data collection techniques included questionnaires and
documentation. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 26 with
Mann–Whitney, Wilcoxon tests, and N‑Gain Score calculations.
Based on the analysis
results, it can be concluded that implementing a zero-waste lifestyle using the
Project-Based Learning (PjBL) model has a significant effect on improving IPS
learning outcomes. This is evidenced by a significant difference between the
pretest and posttest scores in the experimental group, with an average N‑Gain
Score of 70, categorized as high. The Mann–Whitney test results also show a
significant difference between the experimental and control groups. These
findings confirm that a project-based approach that integrates zero-waste
values encourages active student engagement, provides more contextual
understanding, and fosters a sense of responsibility toward the environment.
Keywords: Zero Waste, Project-Based Learning, Environmental
Care Attitude, Natural Resource Utilization, SMP Negeri 12 Surabaya.