Innovation

XSProject was founded in 2002 by an expatriate who saw a lot of waste accumulation in Jakarta. One time, she asked a trash picker what waste they collected. The scavenger told her that plastic packaging waste was not collected because it had no sale value. XSProject was launched with the intention of reducing pollution from plastic packaging by finding a way to upcycle it and purchasing it from the scavengers.

When that time, nobody believed plastic packaging waste could be a useful or valuable product. XSProject proved them wrong, turning this trash into tote bags, handbags, notebook sleeves, etc. Demand for these products has proven to be robust, enough that XSProject has also hired professional tailors to fill soaring orders.

Inspiration

Retno Hapsari took over the management of XSProject Indonesia in 2007. Originally, XLProject operated as an experimental artistic studio that transformed waste into functional artwork. Under Hapsari’s leadership, the organization has expanded operations to also help improve the economic situation of scavengers and their families. “We wanted to change unwanted waste into a product and extend its life” says Hapsari. “To use these products to educate people about the importance of not creating garbage and also find solutions to the garbage we have created.”

Under Hapsari, XSProject focuses not just on the wellbeing of scavengers, but also that their children’s basic necessities of life are met, and that they have access to education. She also often speaks at seminars and workshops to educate the public about recycling and waste management, in an effort to preserve the environment.

Overall impact

Indonesia is the second largest contributor to plastic waste in the world after China. Mishandeling of waste is one of the most serious problems in Jakarta, which accumulates 7000 tons of it each day, 14% of which is plastic. That figure is only growing year-over-year. By turning some of that waste into usable products, XSProject is helping to cut down on non-biodegradable waste, turning it into usable products.

XSProject’s work supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No Poverty)m 4 (Quality Education), 14 (Life Under Water), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Business benefit

Between its domestic and global markets, XSProject has sold more than 100,000 products. The operation has grown to employ 600 trash pickers, as well as skilled workers, such as tailors, who make the finished products in the company workshop. XSProject is constantly innovating to create new products and attract new customers.

Social and environmental benefit

By creating and selling products out of non-biodegradable waste, XSProject is contributing to a safer environment by reducing plastic garbage in Jakarta. As previously mentioned, XSProject puts its profit towards philanthropic initiatives. Two initiatives it funds are XSEducation and XSVocational. XSEducation supports primary, secondary, and even University Education, in order to reduce poverty. XSVocational trains housewives in the scavenger community in microfinance and other business skills to empower them to start their own businesses.

Interview

Retno Hapsari, General Manager