Press Release
From Roots to Market: The Birth of Indonesia’s Bioplastic Industry
Cikarawang Cassava Transformed into Bioplastic, Now Exported to Japan
Bogor, January 22, 2025 – Cassava, a simple and affordable staple food, has now become a high-value commodity. Thanks to the collaboration between local farmers in Cikarawang Village, Greenhope, and various stakeholders, cassava has been transformed into innovative products, including eco-friendly bioplastics, which have now entered global markets, including Japan.
Greenhope, together with Kelompok Tani Setia, has enhanced the capacity of local farmers through intensive training, continuous mentorship, and support for production facilities. Farmers can now process cassava into high-value products such as mocaf flour, instant mocaf noodles, and cassava-based bioplastics using cutting-edge technologies like Ecoplas and Naturloop. One of the flagship products, bioplastic straws, has become a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic in global markets.
This innovation aligns with the vision of President Prabowo Subianto, as outlined in the book "Strategic Transformation of the Nation: Towards Indonesia Emas 2045", published in 2023. In this book, bioplastic utilization is ranked 10th out of 17 priority programs, specifically under "Ensuring Environmental Sustainability", emphasizing the need for immediate adoption of bioplastics in daily life.
"Through Ecoplas and Naturloop technology, we ensure that cassava from local farmers is transformed into biodegradable bioplastic resin. This innovation serves as a real solution to replace conventional plastic, especially waste that is neither viable nor economically feasible to recycle. It effectively reduces carbon footprint and microplastic pollution while providing socio-economic benefits for Indonesian farmers," said Tommy Tjiptadjaja, CEO of Greenhope, during the "From Roots to Market: The Birth of Indonesia’s Bioplastic Industry" event in Cikarawang Village, Dramaga, on Wednesday (22/01/2025).
The event in Cikarawang Village was attended and supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLH), UNDP, BPDLH, bioplastic product users, and other key stakeholders.
Tommy further explained that with the collaboration and support from various parties, including the government, this initiative has successfully led to the birth of Indonesia’s bioplastic industry. This ensures that Indonesia, rich in natural resources, can fully optimize its potential from upstream to downstream.
"We are grateful for the support from many parties. The establishment of Indonesia’s bioplastic industry ensures a constant demand for cassava, providing high economic value for farmers and contributing to shared prosperity," he added.
Government Recognition & Support
During the event, Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry, Diaz Faisal Malik Hendropriyono, praised the breakthrough achieved by Greenhope and Cikarawang cassava farmers. He emphasized that cassava-based bioplastic products significantly help the government tackle plastic waste issues.
"There must be a way to ensure plastic degrades faster, which is why I am grateful for Greenhope and other parties developing eco-friendly products. I sincerely hope this becomes a long-term solution and I deeply appreciate what has been done, especially for the 130 farmers in Cikarawang Village," said Deputy Minister Diaz.
Recognition for Industry Leaders in Bioplastics
An award ceremony was also held to recognize pioneers and industry leaders supporting the adoption of eco-friendly bioplastics. This recognition was formally presented by KPPLI (Indonesian Coalition for Sustainable Plastics) and the Gerakan Pasti Movement, independent organizations ensuring sustainability throughout the entire bioplastic ecosystem chain.
Deputy Minister Diaz Faisal Malik Hendropriyono also symbolically supported the awards given to bioplastic adopters such as Watsons, Sarirasa Group, Ecorasa, Tessa, Dewata by Monsieur Spoon, Kharisma Plastikindo, and Rekam Nusantara. This acknowledges the acceptance of bioplastics across various industry sectors.
"These cassava-based bioplastic products not only help reduce plastic pollution but also create eco-friendly solutions that positively impact society and the environment. I commend Greenhope and all stakeholders involved, especially the farmers in Cikarawang Village," said Deputy Minister Diaz.
Sustainable Funding & UNDP Collaboration
Damayanti Ratunanda, Director of Fund Distribution at BPDLH, reaffirmed BPDLH's commitment to sustainability through the Catalytic Funding program, launched in collaboration with UNDP. This initiative helps various institutions expand their positive impact on the environment, social welfare, and governance.
"We are happy to see the smiling faces of our farmers today because now they have viable solutions for selling their products and exploring alternative markets," she stated.
Similarly, Nila Murti, ASSIST National Project Manager at UNDP, expressed appreciation for all parties involved in the success of the Catalytic Funding program. The project was designed to help the Indonesian government achieve its sustainable development goals (SDGs).
"We aim to accelerate the private sector’s contributions toward achieving sustainability goals. This entire program empowers farmers—not only in food production but also in creating biodegradable materials that are widely accepted by consumers. We hope this initiative will continue," said Nila.
Building a Circular & Sustainable Bioplastic Ecosystem
Ujang, Chairman of Kelompok Tani Setia Cikarawang, shared that the collaboration with Greenhope stemmed from their aspiration to establish a self-sufficient village that enhances the welfare of local residents.
"We didn’t just receive assistance, but also training on how to process cassava into flour. Additionally, Alhamdulillah, we were also supported in terms of packaging," said Ujang.
This multi-stakeholder collaboration demonstrates the successful creation of a circular and sustainable bioplastic ecosystem, ensuring impact from upstream to downstream.