Innovation

Kinarya Coop’s innovation is built on a unique fusion of creativity, sustainability, and cooperative values transforming Indonesia’s youth energy into a collective force for positive change. The cooperative utilizes film as a catalyst for multi-sector collaboration, economic empowerment, and environmental restoration. Each production, such as Impian 1000 Pulau and Cintaku di Perbatasan, is not only a work of art but also a catalyst for action. Every ticket purchase contributes to the #1Ticket1Mangrove campaign, where a portion of profits is allocated to planting mangroves across coastal areas in Kalimantan and Kepulauan Seribu. These films also feature local products and MSMEs, promoting inclusive growth by integrating real communities into the creative economy.

Beyond film, Kinarya has developed BioPods, an innovative solution that transforms agricultural and plastic waste into biodegradable materials. Through partnerships with vocational schools, the cooperative operates the Teaching Factory (TeFa) and Teaching Industry (TeIn) programs, where students learn to create bio-based products, blending sustainability education with hands-on production. This not only reduces environmental waste but also builds green skills for Indonesia’s next generation.

Kinarya’s innovation also extends to digital empowerment through platforms like YUKFLIX.id, Indonesia’s first cooperative-owned streaming service; LACI Mart, a marketplace for MSMEs; and SAKTI.Link, a blockchain-based digital cooperative finance system. Together, these initiatives form a circular ecosystem, connecting creativity, technology, and sustainability under a single cooperative vision, demonstrating that art and business can work hand in hand to achieve social and environmental transformation.

Inspiration

The story of Kinarya Coop began with a simple act of compassion and creativity. In 2014, a group of young filmmakers from the community Sineas Muda Indonesia created short films to raise funds for friends battling chronic illnesses. What started as an act of kindness soon revealed the transformative power of storytelling and collective action. This experience inspired the founders to explore how film could be more than entertainment; it could become a tool for education, empowerment, and sustainability.

Driven by the spirit of gotong royong (mutual cooperation), the team envisioned a new kind of organization, one that would unite Indonesia’s youth through creative collaboration and shared ownership. This vision evolved into Kinarya Coop, a cooperative platform that connects art, social innovation, and technology to solve real-world problems. The founders were also inspired by Indonesia’s national dream of achieving a Golden Generation by 2045, believing that young people must not only be creative but also responsible stewards of the environment and community.

As one of the founders expressed, “We started with the desire to help one person now, we’re building a system that helps thousands.” This belief that small acts of kindness can lead to large-scale impact became the foundation of Kinarya’s work. Supported by seven Indonesian ministries through the GERAKAN1000 Declaration, Kinarya’s innovation continues to evolve as a national movement that empowers youth to feel good by doing good things, proving that compassion can fuel both creativity and sustainable growth.

Overall impact

The overall impact of Kinarya Coop’s innovation has been both transformational and measurable, demonstrating how creativity, cooperation, and sustainability can build long-term value for people, the planet, and the economy. Through its ecosystem of film, bio-based innovation, and digital cooperatives, Kinarya has successfully turned social messages into social movements. Its environmental initiative, the #1Ticket1Mangrove campaign, has planted over 13,000 mangroves across Indonesia’s coastal regions, such as Kepulauan Seribu and West Kalimantan. This not only contributes to carbon absorption and shoreline protection but also raises climate awareness among thousands of viewers who participate simply by watching a film.

Socially, Kinarya has empowered over 1,000 Gen Z students through its Sahabat 5+2 Mentorship Program and Teaching Factory (TeFa) collaborations. These programs nurture youth leadership, digital literacy, and green entrepreneurship, preparing a generation that is both creative and socially conscious. In Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), the cooperative’s clean water installations and nutrition programs have directly benefited rural families, improving sanitation and reducing stunting rates. Economically, Kinarya’s inclusive model supports micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by featuring local products in its films and promoting them through LACI Mart, driving sales and visibility.

Through these combined initiatives, Kinarya has established a circular system of positive impact, where every creative act, whether filming, mentoring, or selling eco-friendly products, contributes to environmental restoration and social upliftment. In essence, Kinarya has shown that business innovation can unite art, technology, and compassion into a powerful driver of sustainable change.

Business benefit

Kinarya Coop’s innovation creates strong business benefits by combining creativity, sustainability, and technology into a single integrated ecosystem. Its film-based business model generates continuous revenue while promoting products and causes that align with its mission. For example, each film not only sells tickets but also integrates and markets MSME products, local tourism destinations, and sustainable initiatives, creating a multiplier effect for both visibility and sales. The cooperative’s digital platforms strengthen its business foundation: YUKFLIX.id functions as Indonesia’s first cooperative-owned video-on-demand platform, allowing Kinarya to monetize creative content directly while returning value to its members. LACI Mart serves as an e-commerce hub that empowers small businesses to reach broader audiences, while SAKTI.Link ensures transparent, traceable cooperative transactions through a blockchain-based system. Together, these platforms provide recurring income streams, lower operational costs, and open new digital markets.

Kinarya’s cooperative structure also fosters financial sustainability and shared ownership, enabling profits to be redistributed among members through the cooperative’s surplus-sharing system. This model not only ensures long-term financial stability but also builds trust, loyalty, and community engagement. By partnering with ministries, universities, and private organizations, Kinarya gains access to new funding, collaborations, and social credibility. The cooperative’s innovation has also strengthened its brand identity as a pioneer of youth-led sustainable enterprises in Indonesia, attracting both investors and supporters who value impact-driven business. Ultimately, Kinarya proves that doing good can also mean doing well, establishing a sustainable business model where social purpose fuels profitability.

Social and environmental benefit

Kinarya Coop’s innovation delivers tangible social and environmental benefits through its unique approach, which combines film, education, and sustainability. Socially, the cooperative empowers young people and local communities by providing them with access to vocational training, mentorship, and creative career opportunities. Programs like Sahabat 5+2 and partnerships with vocational schools help thousands of students build both creative and green skills, preparing Indonesia’s Gen Z to become socially conscious entrepreneurs. In rural areas, Kinarya’s CSR initiatives, such as clean water installations and nutrition programs in Nusa Tenggara Timur, have directly improved public health and reduced stunting rates.

Environmentally, Kinarya leads impactful climate actions through its #1Ticket1Mangrove campaign, which has already planted over 13,000 mangroves across Indonesia. This initiative not only restores coastal ecosystems but also raises public awareness of carbon reduction and blue economy practices. Through its BioPod and Teaching Factory (TeFa) programs, Kinarya transforms plastic and agricultural waste into biodegradable materials, creating sustainable products that reduce environmental pollution while generating income for schools and communities. The cooperative also promotes circular economy practices, encouraging the use of recycled materials in everyday life and teaching responsible consumption habits.

Overall, Kinarya’s innovation fosters a positive feedback loop between people, planet, and profit, enhancing community welfare, promoting environmental conservation, and empowering Indonesia’s next generation of changemakers. It serves as a living example of how creative industries can be both socially uplifting and environmentally responsible, transforming sustainability into a collective cultural movement.

Interview

Ivonny Zakaria, Founder & Chairwoman