闯础碍础搁罢础听鈥听Just a few hours after using a mobile app to order some dishwashing liquid, Jakarta resident听Juweriah听opens the door to a motorbike courier who provides a direct refill in her kitchen.听
Juweriah, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, is taking advantage of a rise in environmentally friendly businesses in a country that is the second-largest ocean plastic polluter in the world.听
The 38-year-old homemaker orders products through听Siklus, a startup that provides cleaning and sanitary products minus plastic packaging to homes and businesses in the Indonesian capital.听
鈥淲e can refill (the bottles) and reduce the amount of detergent plastic waste,鈥澨齁uweriah听said.听鈥淣eighbours here have followed suit.鈥听
Siklus, launched in 2019, aims to reduce the number of products packaged in sachets, which are particularly popular among lower-income communities.听Siklus听means听鈥渃ycle鈥澨齣n Bahasa Indonesia.听
Selling for around 800 rupiah (5 cents), single-use sachets give some of the poorest people in Asia access to everyday household essentials, but they also generate a significant amount of waste, clogging waterways and oceans.听
Indonesia generates approximately 7.8 million tons of plastic waste annually, with 4.9 million tons of waste mismanaged, according to a World Bank report in May. Limited waste management collection infrastructure is one of the main problems, according to the report.听
Siklus听Chief Executive Jane von Rabenau, 28, said the response to the product had been positive, with the company increasing its customer base by around 15% each week.听
鈥淧eople have always told me听鈥榶ou鈥檙e听never going to change the听behavior, Indonesians don鈥檛 care鈥櫶齛nd I was like, I really don鈥檛 think so,鈥澨齭he said.听鈥淚 think Indonesians across all classes they see the plastic problem, and they care about their country, they care about making it better.鈥听
Jakarta food stall owner听Husaifah听was attracted to听Siklus听by low prices as well as its environmental credentials. Dispensing with packaging allows the company to significantly reduce end costs.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 practical,鈥澨鼿usaifa听said.听鈥淭he cost is low, and we don’t have to go out, it comes to us.鈥澨鈥斕Reuters听
