Indonesia announced as second implementation market for global initiative to help improve the lives of informal waste sector workers
The Circulate Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to solving the ocean plastic pollution challenge in emerging markets, today announced that Indonesia will be the second implementation market for the Responsible Sourcing Initiative, a global, multi-year program designed to address the most pressing human rights challenges in the plastic recycling supply chain.
The initiation of the implementation project in Indonesia follows Viet Nam’s launch earlier this year, ahead of similar projects planned in India and Kenya. With an aim to improve livelihoods for an estimated 50,000 informal waste sector workers by 2026 across selected markets, the global initiative will also aim to secure the commitment of over 50 global brands, investors, recyclers and aggregators to adopt a harmonized framework, which offers a practical approach to implementing responsible sourcing practices.
In Indonesia, informal waste sector workers play a critical role in the management of plastic waste, collecting around one million tonnes of waste per year. By 2025, the Indonesian government aims to reduce waste by 30% and plastic marine debris by 70%, an ambitious target which cannot be met without the contribution of the informal sector.
The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) are partnering with Mahija Foundation (Mahija Parahita Nusantara) to support the implementation of responsible sourcing practices and help improve the livelihoods of the informal waste sector workers in the value chain of recycling partner, PT Amandina Bumi Nusantara in Indonesia.
The announcement was made as representatives from local recyclers and aggregators, waste worker associations, government and global companies gathered in Jakarta over 3-4 October to deepen understanding of responsible supply chains and the needs and perspectives of informal waste sector workers in Indonesia, known locally as pemulung.
Annerieke Douma, Director of Programs, The Circulate Initiative said: “Creating a systems-change approach to ensuring responsible supply chains requires the collaboration and commitment of all stakeholders along the plastic recycling value chain. In Indonesia, pemulung are critical to helping solve the plastic pollution crisis and we look forward to working with them with the aim to address challenges and to ensure their rights are respected.”
Paul Lalli, Senior Vice President, Global Human Rights, Labor and Employee Relations at The Coca-Cola Company said: “The contributions of the informal waste collection sector are fundamental to driving a circular economy and helping ensure a consistent supply of high-quality recycled plastic in Indonesia. Respect for the human rights of those working in this sector is equally important. We are proud to support The Circulate Initiative’s Responsible Sourcing Initiative and look forward to working with local partners like Mahija Foundation and PT Amandina Bumi Nusantara on projects that help deepen the industry’s understanding of responsible supply chains.”
Suharji Gasali, Managing Director of Amandina Bumi Nusantara said: “We rely heavily on the skills and contributions of informal waste sector workers, who supply high quality plastic waste for recycling. We are thrilled to be a part of this initiative, to implement practices within our own supply chain that improve their conditions and can serve as a model for other supply chains within Indonesia and other countries.”
Ardhina Zaiza, Chairwoman of Mahija Foundation said: “We look forward to continuing our close collaboration and partnership with people living within the community of waste collectors to explore new opportunities to improve their quality of life. This initiative is an opportunity for us to align our efforts in supporting the livelihoods of collectors, employees and their families.”
The launch follows The Circulate Initiative’s recent release of the Harmonized Responsible Sourcing Framework for Recycled Plastics, the first-ever global effort to establish a unified, actionable set of indicators for buyers of recycled plastics and other organizations to implement responsible supply chain practices. Using the framework, the results of the Indonesia project will be evaluated, with insights to be shared and rolled out to other markets.