Supporting livelihoods and reducing plastic pollution
Unrecyclable plastic packaging pollutes North Jakarta’s coast, clogging drains, worsening flooding, harming fisheries, and threatening public health. In 2024, Indonesians produced an average of 4 kg of sachet waste per person, with total sachet and pouch waste projected to exceed 1.1 million tonnes by 2030.
Alner empowers local, women-led micro-retailers such as warungs (small family-run kiosks) and waste banks (community-based recycling centres) to operate as refill stations offering daily essentials like detergent, dish soap, rice, and cooking oil, thereby reducing disposable sachet use.
With its OCEAN Grant, Alner aims to establish 250 new refill stations along North Jakarta’s coast, increasing micro-retailers’ monthly income by 10% and saving low-income households approximately £60 per year on essential goods. The project will also prevent at least 3.2 tonnes of plastic sachets entering the environment, saving 749 tonnes of CO2e and 214,200 litres of water.
Key activities include delivering training sessions on refill operations, product handling, marketing and business skills in 5 districts. Households will be reached through promotional campaigns, peer-to-peer education and community events that promote the benefits of the refill scheme.
