Heaptalk, Jakarta — Nadia Mulya, a renowned Indonesian figure, is interested in exploring the green revolution in Indonesia by venturing into waste management. Currently, she is undertaking several initiatives, including waste-to-energy projects by producing refuse-derived fuel (RDF) and converting low-value plastics into products.
According to her, the waste problem originates from humans being overly consumptive. People are consuming more than they actually enjoy, resulting in increasing amounts of trash and waste. “My parents always taught me to never take more than you need, consume wisely, and be mindful about your consumption. When you have food on your plate, finish it. Don’t buy something that you don’t need. These are very simple principles,” Nadia said during a discussion with environmental activist Poempida Hidayatulloh on the Forum Carbon Indonesia YouTube channel.
Looking ahead, Nadia is working on a new project: a digital platform to monitor all plastic usage data. This innovative tool is set to be unveiled in mid-2024. She voiced, “We’re missing out on the data side. When you’re talking about applications, there’s the back end, which has a lot of work to be done. Hopefully, by mid-this year, we can launch it.”
Petition for a ban on single-use plastic bags
Embarking on her environmental activism journey in 2016, Nadia Mulya was at the forefront of the Green Revolution in Indonesia. Her first step was with Gerakan Indonesia Diet Kantong Plastik, now known as Diet Plastic Indonesia. “I joined them initially when I was hosting a show, and some of their activists appeared on the show. We discussed what needs to be done to protect the earth and be kind to the environment,” she added.
Subsequently, she participated in various green movement activities, such as the Ciliwung River cleanup and plastic bag exchange in Sudirman. Together with her fellow activists, Nadia initiated a petition advocating for a ban on single-use plastic bags. The overwhelming support from thousands who signed the petition marked a significant collective achievement.
Nadia explained, “For three months in February 2016, we didn’t use plastic bags in supermarkets and minimarkets. After the three-month trial, it had a very good impact. We had 55% less single-use plastic in the landfill, a 55% decrease, and it was in Jakarta at the time.” The success of the single-use plastic bag ban was not limited to Jakarta, as it was embraced across Indonesia, with Balikpapan and other cities leading the way. To date, 100 regencies and two provinces have implemented the ban on single-use plastic bags.
In 2022, Nadia founded Langit Biru Pertiwi, a company passionate about preserving the beauty of nature through experience, learning, and transformation. This company provides eco-trips and beach cleanups, workshops, as well as consultations and services for individuals, SMEs, and corporations to become more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
