Educating the World Through Innovative Solutions on Plastic Waste Problems in Indonesia

Jakarta, 26 Agustus 2020 – Danone-AQUA and H&M Indonesia strengthen their bottle2fashion initiative by launching a worldwide campaign called “Cleaning-Up for the Future” by producing sustainable kids wear from recycled plastic bottles. The collection will be launched in H&M online and offline stores across the world, including in Europe, the U.S., Asia, Africa, and Oceanian countries. The global campaign is aimed at educating consumers, including children, to be more aware about marine pollution and participate in the effort to keep the environment clean for a sustainable future. 

In Indonesia, the collection is available for purchase at ID.HM.COM, and in 12 H&M stores throughout Greater Jakarta Area, Surabaya, Bandung, and Bali. 

The bottle2fashion initiative is a result of partnership between Danone-AQUA and H&M Indonesia to introduce a circular product made from recycled plastic waste, a sustainable means of production converted into sustainable daily wear. 

This initiative was first launched in 2017, at the same time with the establishment of the Alliance for Marine Plastic Solutions Forum (AMPS) by the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment. It represents Danone-AQUA’s and H&M Indonesia’s support towards Indonesian government’s effort to reduce 70% of plastic waste in the ocean by 2025 and in bringing plastic pollution close to zero in 2040. 

“Through bottle2fashion initiative that we’ve conducted alongside H&M Indonesia, Danone-AQUA successfully gathered 129 tons of used plastic bottles from Kepulauan Seribu and the coast of Jakarta. This is a prove of our effort to prevent plastic from going into the ocean, which is also the manifestation of our #BijakBerplastik movement,” said Senior Sustainable Packaging Manager, Danone Indonesia, Ratih Anggraeni. “Together with our NGO partner, we involve the public, students, and the local Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis) to separate their waste and bring them to the waste banks in their area and local schools, or through the scavengers we’ve empowered to collect plastic waste as part of our recycling ecosystem.” 

The collected plastic bottles are brought to Danone-AQUA’s recycling business unit (RBU) in Southern Tangerang to be sorted, cleaned, and shredded into smaller pieces. The shredded plastic then sent to H&M Indonesia’s production facility to be converted into polyester and various fashion products available in H&M stores worldwide. 

“We are very proud to be able to launch Cleaning-Up for the Future campaign alongside Danone-AQUA to support our vision towards 100% circularity while using sustainable resources. The kids wear collection made from recycled plastic bottles is part of our effort to achieve 100% recycled and sustainable production means for H&M brand by 2030,” said Communications Manager, H&M Indonesia, Karina Soegarda. 

The supply chain from the kids wear collection is a reflection of Danone-AQUA’s and H&M Indonesia’s consistency in coming-up with innovative, holistic solutions to tackle plastic pollution in the ocean. It is not only beneficial for Indonesia, but also for the world. 

This campaign sends a message that innovative solution with a wide impact is only feasible through multi-stakeholder partnerships involving various industries, communities, NGOs, academic institutions, the media, and government institutions. 

Danone-AQUA is the first FMCG company in Indonesia that is B-corp certified, the highest standard for social and sustainability performance, transparency, and accountability. Danone-AQUA has pioneered the eco-friendly reusable jugs since 1984 and launched the Danone-AQUA Peduli recycling program in 1993. As a pioneer in sustainable business practices, Danone-AQUA continues to promote the Bijak Berplastik (be wise in using plastic) movement through collaboration with multi-stakeholders, so that the reduce, reuse, and recycle habits grow among the society. Danone-AQUA never stops innovating to build a circular economy, one of which is through the launch of AQUA LIFE, bottle packaging that is 100% made from recycled PET and is recyclable.