Welcoming PT Mukti Mandiri Lestari

02/21/2023 |

President Director of PT Mukti Mandiri Lestari, Wawan Budiawan, stated that PT Mukti Mandiri Lestari, as a business leader in e-waste management in Indonesia, is not only put the concern on the business side, but also for the environment for future generation. PT Mukti promotes the handling of e-waste in environmentally friendly ways to any e-waste generator stakeholders, including manufacturers, OEMs, large multinational enterprises, service providers, local government agencies and communities.

E-waste contains numerous toxins which can be dangerous if it’s not disposed properly, as it can cause environmental pollution and health hazards. Moreover, some parts of e-waste still can be recovered and recycled. PT Mukti Mandiri Lestari proudly does the honors as a leader to offer a complete and highly efficient solution for eco-friendly management end-of-life electronic assets.  

BASF Puts the Social Responsibility Into Action with Kids’ Lab Program

12/14/2022 |

“Science education is part of BASF social commitment. With “BASF Kids’ Lab goes to School”, we are bringing science and inspiring the younger generations to discover the world of chemistry through safe and fun experiments in the comfort of their school,” said Agus Ciputra, President Director of BASF Indonesia.

During the pandemic, BASF Indonesia introduced a BAFS’ Virtual Lab in Bahasa Indonesia version which allows children to explore chemistry from home. This is part of BASF’s social engagement strategy to open up learning opportunities. At BASF, education is a key to children’s future and society’s development, in order to meet tomorrow’s challenges and create a sustainable future.

PZ Cussons Joining the Earthquake Relief Effort

11/21/2022 |

Product quality and consumer safety are critical to building brands that consumers trust and use for the long term. We focus on creating products that deliver functional and wellbeing benefits to our consumers and that meet the growing consumer desire for more sustainable products.

We have consistently invested in assuring product quality and consumer safety throughout our value chain. We apply robust management systems and the latest science to ensure that our products are safe for consumers and consistently deliver the experience that consumers demand.

Our main manufacturing sites are accredited to ISO9001 for quality. We use ISO10377, the standard for consumer safety, to assess and improve our performance and we measure ourselves regularly against the standard.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade and Industry Supports Sustainable Palm Oil

06/14/2022 |

Jakarta, 15 March 2022 – The Ministry of Trade and Industry is preparing instruments to support the creation of a downstream industrial climate for palm oil users that prioritizes a balance of environmental, social, and economic aspects. The virtual dialogue entitled Recover Stronger Through Low-Carbon Economy, initiated by the Indonesia Business Council for Sustainable Development (IBCSD) in collaboration with the WWF Indonesia Foundation, is one of the efforts to support Indonesia’s G20 Presidency and encourage active participation of the private sector and other stakeholders in the development of a low-carbon economy through the implementation of sustainable business practices.

On this occasion, Putu Juli Ardika, Director-General of Agro-Industry at the Ministry of Industry, said that the palm oil industry is a leading labor-intensive sector that supports the national economy. As a result, the sustainable development of the downstream palm oil industry is very important. Palm oil and biomass should be produced by international standards based on sustainable development goals so that Indonesian palm oil feeds the nation and the world and contributes to global food needs. “Currently seeing the development, in terms of regulations and completeness of ISPO for the downstream palm oil industry, it has reached the final stage. But still waiting for the legal cover to arrive in the near future.”

Isy Karim, Director of the Ministry of Trade’s Basic Needs and Important Goods, said that the Ministry of Trade encourages policy programs downstream of palm goods, not only in the form of raw materials. The Ministry of Trade wants palm production to have a higher value not only for export. “Meanwhile, to support the absorption of domestic consumption of sustainable palm oil products, we are still waiting for directions from the President.”

On the other hand, the increasing demand for palm oil is frequently linked to environmental and social issues. Therefore, RSPO Senior Manager Global Community Outreach & Engagement, Imam A. El Marzuq explained that implementing sustainable palm oil production practices can answer these challenges. “Replacing palm oil with other vegetable oil substitutes is not a solution. Palm oil plantations that are certified sustainable have a 35 percent and 20 percent lower impact on greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity than non-certified plants when compared to other vegetable oil commodities.” As a result, the RSPO places a high priority on developing palm oil governance that uses Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) to reduce deforestation.

The Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard (POBS), an annual publication launched by WWF in 2009, aims to track the progress of companies in the downstream sector in procuring sustainable palm oil products and derivatives based on criteria such as supply chain and supplier sincerity, as well as sustainable actions and investments, showed an increase in awareness in almost all indicators.

Senior Engagement Manager Global Palm Oil WWF Singapore, Octyanto Bagus Indra Kusuma said “The positive trends in POBS in the downstream palm oil industry are due to increased market awareness and demand pressure, ambitions for sustainability as the company’s core and low-carbon green economy transition policies. So that more and more companies want to improve themselves and prove the palm oil industry is free from deforestation and human rights violations.”

The aspect of sustainability as the company’s core is now also one of the main considerations in financing investment in the financial services sector (SJK). In a panel discussion session, Charles Kho, Head of International Subsidiary Banking at HSBC Indonesia, said that the Green Taxonomy is the starting point for a uniform standard of reference language for banks. However, in the future, this document alone will not suffice; reporting requirements must be developed, and the progress of green operations must be exposed on a regular basis to avoid potential greenwashing practices.

“In the context of our palm oil and supply chain, we will focus on Green Loan-Sustainability Linked Loan (SLL), Trade Financing-Sustainability Linked Trade Load (SLTL) and Sustainability Supply Chain Financing (SCCF) which are based on Green Loan Principles. Charles emphasized that the most important thing is that the company has a key performance indicator (KPI), sustainable performance targets (SPT), good governance, which allows for measurable reporting and verification. He hopes that HSBC Indonesia’s green loan-financing products would serve as a catalyst for boosting economic activity while reducing negative environmental and social impacts.

In general, the participants in this discussion feel that sustainable palm oil is a major industry that can help Indonesia achieve a low-carbon economy. With the urgency of a climate change strategy by the state, the G20 presidency provides an opportunity for Indonesia to become a leading sustainable palm oil enterprise.

It’s time for sustainability issues to be treated as a collective duty that requires significant cross-sectoral collaboration. Multi-stakeholder efforts made by the government, the financial services sector and certifying bodies are required to work together to create an ecosystem in which downstream and upstream oil palm industry actors compete to implement ecologically and socially responsible business practices.

EWINDO HOLDS “LIVE VIRTUAL” NATIONAL EXPO FOR FARMERS

06/14/2022 |

Purwakarta, 21 February 2022 – PT East West Seed Indonesia (EWINDO), the producer of ‘Cap Panah Merah’ vegetable seeds, staged a live virtual Cap Panah Merah EXPO 2022 Stay Close in the Midst of a Pandemic” to reach millions of farmers across Indonesia. The first Live Virtual Expo of vegetable seeds showcased the most advanced vegetable varieties, agricultural production technologies, and professional consultations to help farmers solve problems. Around 500 participants, including farmers, traders, agricultural shops, and EWINDO partners, attended the event, which was also broadcast live on the Panah Merah TV Youtube page.

“This Virtual Live Expo is also bridging colleagues of farmers who could always gather at the annual expo conducted by EWINDO during the pre-pandemic season,” stated Glenn Pardede, Managing Director of EWINDO.

Glen explained this Expo reflects EWINDO’s commitment to assisting in the advancement of the national horticultural sector by providing excellent seeds and advice to farmers. Farmers are not only given high-quality seeds, but also have the opportunity to consult, exchange ideas, and learn about the most up-to-date vegetable cultivation techniques.

Cap Panah Merah Expo 2022 showcased superior products from quality vegetable seeds from EWINDO breeders such as PERKASA Sweet Corn F1, Rawit Chili F1, ALINA F1 Melon, SANREN F1 Red Onion Seeds, Big Chili BAJA MC F1, YUVITA Purple Eggplant F1, NEW METAVY F1 and ERINA F1 cucumbers, and GUSTAVI F1 tomatoes.

Not only concerned in high-quality seeds research and development, EWINDO has also accelerated the process of implementing digital technology. SIPINDO is an application which provides access to reliable information about agriculture for small farmers to make data-based decisions for their cultivated land. This apps has been in development since 2017 and it is especially useful during a pandemic. Now SIPINDI has been downloaded by more than 115,000 users.

The irrigation has been the most popular SIPINDO features. It provides recommendations for irrigation/watering for plants based on location data input, growth phase, and last watering time. Furthermore, users have access to a variety of farm store services, including the ability to locate the nearest shop in their location to purchase agricultural equipment and equipment. This gives opportunity for farmers to have direct interactions with specialists on agriculture and plant diseases through SIPINDO. Farmers can also share their experiences with farmers from different places in obtain insight and information on the prices of vegetable goods, which are important for farmers. These features are extremely beneficial to Indonesian farmers during the epidemic, particularly those in the 3T (outermost, disadvantaged, and leading) districts

Not only SIPINDO, to make it easier for farmers to access superior quality seeds, EWINDO has launched an official store called panahmerah.store on the marketplace channel. This service has been used by more than 10 thousand farmers and seed users throughout Indonesia.

Watch the full event on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDJO6P5xU7

Welcoming PZ Cussons

05/18/2022 |

The Indonesia Business Council for Sustainable Development (IBCSD) is delighted to welcome PT PZ Cussons Indonesia as a new member. PZ Cussons believes that by making small and positive changes from an early age, everyone can positively affect society and the environment in the future.

By joining IBCSD, we hope to be part of a business community that has a shared commitment to make a positive contribution to society by learning from each other’s experiences and knowledge. PZ Cussons as a global consumer goods group of companies, build a brand to better serve consumers with Hygiene, Baby, and Beauty as our core. We remain focused on Building Brands for Life, Today, and for Generations to Come. The sustainability and well-being of people, families, and communities everywhere are at the heart of our business model and strategy, and is captured by our goal: For everyone, for life, for good”. 

As part of its commitment, PZ Cussons also launched the “Small Step, Big Impact” initiative which focuses on 3 main pillars: education, hygiene, and awareness of using plastic to build a better environment in the future. We are very pleased to be able to do more collaborative actions with IBCSD to promote sustainable business practices in Indonesia,” said Elly Mustrianita, PZ Cussons Indonesia Corporate Communications Director.

PZ Cussons Indonesia has been operating in Indonesia for more than 33 years. We develop and manufacture relevant, high-quality, and innovative products through a deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of local consumers for the brand; Cussons Baby, Cussons Kids, Carex, Imperial leather dan Original Source.

 

Wasting food feeds climate change: IBCSD unites with Food Waste Action Week to break the cycle

03/08/2022 |

UK’s second national Food Waste Action Week begins today, with Indonesia Business Council for Sustainable Development (IBCSD) joining as a partner. IBCSD will be supporting Food Waste Action Week by sharing assets and content about “Food Storage Mistakes” on IBCSD social media

The second annual Food Waste Action Week begins today, Monday 7 March. It will raise people’s awareness of the huge impact of household food waste on climate change and share practical advice, food-savvy behaviors, and tips on how we can all easily reduce the food we waste in our homes.

We throw away 6.6 million tonnes of household food waste a year in the UK. This food waste is responsible for nearly 25 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to 5.4% of the UK’s territorial emissions. The majority, 4.5 million tonnes is food that could have been eaten and is worth approximately £14 billion (or £60 a month for an average family with two children). It requires an area almost the size of Wales to produce all the food and drink currently wasted in the UK.

IBCSD will be participating in the campaign by raising public awareness through multiple channels; Social media and website. We will also create our social media content about “Food Storage Mistakes”. Many people are unfamiliar with proper food storage techniques. Storing our food properly can help us prevent food waste, avoid foodborne illnesses and save money. We want to make ordinary citizens aware of how they store their food.

Bryan Citrasena, Project Manager for Food & Nature at IBCSD said One of the great barriers to food waste reduction in Indonesia is to shift the public mental model and behavior. There is a mindset of ‘providing more food is better than less’ which makes the portion of the food served to consumers more than what they actually want or need to eat. Lack of information on statistics and impacts also becomes the reason for high food waste in Indonesia. “IBCSD has been promoting food waste reduction through GRASP 2030 (Gotong Royong Atasi Susut & Limbah Pangan di 2030) initiative. The GRASP 2030 brings businesses and supporting actors across the food chain in Indonesia to achieve the Goal 12.3 of SDG, halving food loss and waste by 2030, thus increasing the environmental, social, and economic benefits for the participating organizations and for the country”.

Love Food Hate Waste runs an annual survey of people’s habits and knowledge around food waste. This highlighted that 81% of UK citizens are concerned about climate change, but only 32% see a clear link with food waste. The survey helped to inform the theme of the Week and the development of materials to motivate people to act. This year, Love Food Hate Waste found that the public’s relationship with its freezers has become particularly frosty with many people not knowing how to safely freeze and defrost their food.

Sarah Clayton, Love Food Hate Waste, “Getting to grips with freezing and defrosting are big factors in preventing food from going to waste at home. At a time of rising food prices alongside huge public concern about climate change, tackling food waste at home is one way we can all make a difference and save money. For the average family with children, the cost of binning food can be more than £700 per year. So, Food Waste Action Week is all about avoiding being savvy in how we store but then use our food.”

Love Food Hate Waste is keen to show that used properly, the freezer is the king of the kitchen. In fact, freezing and defrosting just three key meat items that are commonly not used in time (fresh chicken, bacon, and sausages) could reduce waste of those items by as much as 15,000 tonnes per annum. And, when it comes to defrosting, busy households can avoid a lengthy overnight defrost by using their microwave instead – as people use a toaster to defrost sliced bread from the freezer.

Working together, we can prevent food from being wasted needlessly and protect the planet.

About

Love Food Hate Waste aims to raise awareness of the need to reduce food waste and help the UK public act. It shows that by doing some easy practical everyday things in the home we can all waste less food, which will ultimately benefit the environment, and our pockets too. Love Food Hate Waste is managed by WRAP.

WRAP is a global NGO based in the UK. It is one of the UK’s top 5 environmental charities and works with governments, businesses and individuals to ensure that the world’s natural resources are used more sustainably. It is the charity leading the UK Plastics Pact (a world first), Courtauld Commitment 2030, Textiles 2030 as well as the citizen campaigns Love Food Hate Waste, Love Your Clothes, Clear on Plastics and Recycle Now. It also runs Food Waste Action Week and Recycle Week in the UK. WRAP works collaboratively and develops and delivers evidence-based, solutions to reduce the environmental cost of the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the plastic packaging we use. Founded in 2000 in the UK, WRAP now works with partners in forty countries, across six continents and is a Global Alliance Partner of The Royal Foundation’s Earthshot Prize.   

 

Welcoming Amartha

02/07/2022 |

Indonesia Business Council for Sustainable Development (IBCSD) excited to announce our new member PT Amartha Mikro Fintek (Amartha). Amartha is the pioneer in a peer-to-peer lending platform that connects potential lenders with rural women micro-entrepreneurs.

Chief Risk and Sustainability Officer Amartha, Aria Widyanto stated the membership of Amartha in IBCSD sends a strong message that it is crucial for companies to integrate their business models with sustainability practices to deliver more impacts to the communities. We see that IBCSD is the right association to achieve these goals. We are excited to have more collaborative action with IBCSD to promote sustainable business practices in Indonesia.

Since 2010, Amartha has been a bridging micropreneurs with online potential lenders. The amount of micropreneurs who had difficulties to raise funds for their business due to limited access, income fluctuation, and no credit history was the beginning of our story. As of 2021, Amartha has facilitated over IDR 3.26 trillion loan origination and served over 621,465 micro-entrepreneurs. Today, Amartha has grown with more than 1,000 employees to empower informal economies to, for instance, open their grocery stalls or expand their traditional fish breeding by bridging them with loans, ranging from IDR 3 million to IDR 10 million. The company believe these micropreneurs can evolve to become quality borrowers with the right technology and the spirit of cooperation. Investing in microbusinesses is also proven to create a great deal of social impact.

22 Companies are becoming aware of human rights in doing business

01/26/2022 |

Jakarta, January 25, 2022 – 22 businesses participated in the Business and Human Rights Risk Assessment Training or PRISMA with the Directorate General of Human Rights, Ministry of Law and Human Rights. The training was initiated by the Indonesia Business Council for Sustainable Development (IBCSD) and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI) to encourage business awareness to uphold human rights and avoid violations in supply chain operations.

Secretary of the Directorate General of Human Rights at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Bambang Iriana Djajaatmadja, emphasized that upholding human rights norms is a long-term investment in building a sustainable and robust business. “We have 13 indicators to help companies analyze the risk of alleged human rights violations. From business activities by mapping the real conditions, developing follow-up plans, tracking the implementation of follow-up actions, and communicating this series to the public,” said Bambang in the first training, which took place at the JS Luwansa Hotel, January 13, 2022.

Director of Human Rights Cooperation of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Hajerati explained that the indicators were listed in the website-based PRISMA application. The businesses only need to go to the website and register. Then you’ll get a confirmation email and should begin answering questions about the company’s profile, practices, and human rights impact on the company. Following completion, the corporation will view the business risk and human rights assessment scores based on applicable standards. There are threescore categories: Not Enough (0-43.67%), Quite Appropriate (43.68-87.33%), and Appropriate (87.34-131%).

Hajerati hopes to offer a certificate as proof of the company’s contribution to realizing human rights concerns. “There is no reason to be concerned when filling out PRISMA data because it is for the benefit of the business,” she explained.

On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at the second session, various businesses representatives shared their thoughts and suggestions on the applications they had attempted to complete. Fiki, one of the volunteers who completed the PRISMA application in 25 minutes, stated, “The process is simple, and the data needed is not complex.” Fiki expects that the government will provide certificates or rewards to businesses that have voluntarily filled out the application.

Radu Mares, Senior Researcher at RWI, and Victor Bernard, Program Officer at RWI, emphasized the importance of implementing Human Rights and Environmental Sustainability because more than 150 constitutions worldwide acknowledge the Right to a Healthy Environment including Indonesia’s. “A healthy economy and environment are critical to corporate operations.” If corporations become more aware of their long-term impact on the environment, they will be more committed to conserving and restoring it. As a result, an increasing number of businesses are considering human rights and the environment as crucial performance factors.

With multi-stakeholder collaboration, IBCSD, an association of CEOs of companies that encourage Sustainable Development in Indonesia, builds cooperation with several partners. In this case, the Directorate General of Human Rights and RWI will continue to promote increased awareness of human rights and responsible behavior, not limited to Independent Due Diligence but in daily practice.