Innovation

By upcycling plastic waste into new materials through an intricate weaving process, Sawokecik is able to help reduce the overall waste level in the immediate environment and improve life on land which is the 15th SDG goal. The company's waste collection team collaborates with local waste banks, scavengers, and village youth for waste collection. It also receives plastic waste from the general public, either from Instagram or social media, in accordance with specifications, for example, it must not be mixed with oily materials, etc. These plastics are then cleaned and sterilized through a bleaching process to reduce levels of dirt or bacteria. They are then heated, pressed and cut in preparation for the weaving process. Finally, the plastics are then weaved into the final product by hand. By making long lasting products through a completely green production process, the company is simultaneously tackling the 12th SDG goal of Responsible Consumption and Production.

Sawokecik's plastic based products are 100% recycled meaning they are made entirely from discarded waste material. With its fashion products, however, it still combines textile fabrics like canvas with textile waste, so it is not completely recycled. To solve this, the company is currently conducting research into the application of weaving and textile waste in order to fully integrate it into their products. Until then, SawoKecik will continue to weave canvas fabric with textile waste. The company predicts that its textile products will be made from 90%, or even 100%, textile or plastic waste by the year 2024.

Sawokecik Plastic Weaving Process

Inspiration

Sawokecik was founded 3 years ago in October 2020. Its founder and current CEO, Dikko Andrey Kurniawan saw that the amount of plastic waste in Indonesia was increasing and piling up creating quite a worrying problem, so we innovate products from recycled waste that have use and sales value. The hope is that we can reduce plastic waste in the environment and empower the people around us to carry out this business process.

By making products that are fashionable in nature whilst still being green, Sawokecik hopes to make sustainability a new trend amongst the youth in Indonesia. The company strives to integrate recycling into day-to-day life starting with the youth. As stated by Dikko, "Seeing the increasing amount of plastic waste motivates us to get young people to take part in efforts to save the environment." Aside from that, Dikko also wanted to involve older members of the community, such as local mothers and even grandmothers, and of course, socially, this also includes empowering the mothers around us. So apart from saving the environment, there is also a social mission, namely empowering the community around us.

Overall impact

The overall impact of the innovation is highly positive in many ways by addressing environmental challenges, fostering social development, and contributing to sustainability. The company aligns with multiple sustainable development goals, exemplifying how innovation can make a meaningful and lasting positive change. Dikko Andrey recognized the issue of plastic pollution, which remains a pressing global challenge, thus he started upcycling discarded plastics.

This company promotes a circular economy because the it reduces its environmental footprint through an intricate production process of weaving. While the business model is very circular, turning plastic waste into marketable products contributes to job creation and economic growth, supporting SDG(8)- decent work and economic growth.

Business benefit

SawoKecik has been able to utilize cost benefits of using waste based materials as opposed to ordering or refining plastics themselves. Additionally, the company's innovation has been able to grab the attention of donors such as the Pertamina Foundation, who continue to acknowledge and support SawoKecik's practices. These donations go a long way for the company, helping to reduce machine costs and other tools.

As a result of passing various CSR programs over the last three years, the company has been able to gain credibility building a name for itself amongst other sustainable driven companies in the industry. This trust has given SawoKecik opportunities for future collaboration and partnerships with other firms and foundations. In fact, the company's reputation and innovation is what brought attention to one of its current partners, Edu EkoWisata. This is a company that provides environmental-based programs with training in managing organic and inorganic waste, looking at the management process and caring for the environment. It has also collaborated with schools in the learning curriculum and opened the community up to find out more about how to turn waste into useful goods or products.

SawoKecik has implemented some of Edu EkoWisata’s programs in support of its employee training, making sure its current and future employees gain the much needed skills and information needed for the job.

Social and environmental benefit

Sawokecik's innovative approach to recycling plastic waste offers significant benefits to both society and the environment. At the core of its impact, the company substantially contributes to the environment. It actively reduces the amount of plastic pollution in Indonesia. This aligns with global sustainable goals, especially SDG(15) - Life on land, by helping to mitigate the negative impact of plastic waste on our ecosystems and promoting a healthier environment.

Sawokecik empowers the community by actively engaging and involving community members. It collaborates with waste banks, scavengers, and village youth to collect waste. This helps to create more economic opportunities within the community supporting SDG(1)- no poverty. The social impact the company has is also involving local mothers and grandmothers into the production process. Thus, empowering the community aligns with SDG(10)- reduced inequality.

Sawokecik's commitment to responsible consumption and production SDG(12) is evident as the company's products are made from 100% recycled waste while undergoing a sterilization process. By targeting the youth and promoting sustainable fashion into day-to-day life, Sawokecik aims to positively encourage responsible consumption practices—contributing to a more environmentally conscious society.

Interview

Dikko Andrey Kurniawan, Founder