Anna Sutanto: Building Communities to Prevent Waste in Small Businesses

Indonesia, like many other nations, faces the daunting challenge of managing plastic waste and pollution. It might seem bleak to many, but not to Anna Sutanto, who can always find the good in everything.

‘I have an optimistic character, so that’s really helpful,’ said the co-founder of PlastikDetox, a Bali-based companion for businesses that wish to minimise the use of plastic and single-use items.

Anna’s passion for the environment bloomed at an early age. From hikes with her family around West Java, she was introduced to mountains, valleys and rivers. Her concern grew when, as an adult, she could see the environment was degrading.

When Anna got a job in a waste prevention campaign called Bali Cantik Tanpa Plastik (Beautiful Bali Without Plastic) in 2010, it kick-started the focus of her environmental work. While attending a government forum in 2011, she realised that while there were many good intentions and ideas, they were more likely to be implemented when supported by appropriate regulations.

She was working with volunteers from Australia at the time, who encouraged her to study further. Anna was accepted to study a Masters of Environmental Management and Development from the Australian National University (ANU) with an Australia Awards Scholarship.

Anna acknowledged that her time at ANU’s Crawford School of Public Policy was immensely beneficial.

‘Crawford taught me to see things from multiple perspectives, to establish a more balanced position and attitude,’ she said. ‘This has influenced the various PlastikDetox policies and programs, which we ensure are inclusive, in harmony with nature and others, prioritise wellbeing and are fun.’

Working With Small Businesses to Reduce Waste

As program director at PlastikDetox, Anna is responsible for designing programs, implementing and modifying them based on needs, or testing new learning methods and materials. She also frequently serves as an assistant in logistics and consumption, as well as a volunteer mentor.

PlastikDetox was founded in 2012 by volunteers who first met at the 2011 government initiative, Bali Clean and Green Forum. At the time, several small businesses in Bali were already trying to reduce plastic waste. PlastikDetox invited them to join, so they could learn from and encourage each other and spread the movement to like-minded businesses. Small businesses were chosen as they were considered to have a faster decision-making process.

PlastikDetox provides an educational program implemented through training sessions. At the end of the training, participants can register for the one-year mentoring program, which requires them to prohibit plastic bags, plastic straws and Styrofoam and provide drinking water refill stations.

‘Initially, we had to approach businesses door-to-door,’ Anna recalled. ‘Our growth for the first three years was really slow. But when the issue of waste prevention gained traction in 2017, we were invited to collaborate more frequently.’

Moving Towards Zero Tolerance for Plastic Waste

Amid the escalating global plastic waste crisis, numerous challenges as well as potential solutions emerge. Anna finds that the toughest problem is not the growing amount of waste or the lack of sorting facilities.

‘It's not even a regulation problem, as Indonesia has comprehensive waste reduction and management policies in place at all levels,’ she said. ‘Most educated people, when asked, are put off by waste and know that plastic is a problem. But they tolerate it, and that is the root of the problem. So the question becomes, how do we make waste intolerable for people?’

In 2023, Anna was among the remarkable and diverse Australian alumni community in the ‘70 Years, 70 Faces: Australian Alumni in Indonesia’ photo exhibition held in Jakarta. The community included senior government representatives, business leaders, scholars, journalists, actors and others making a difference in their fields and shaping the future of Indonesia. 

Growing a Community of Mindful, Active Citizens

After 12 years of managing PlastikDetox, Anna has started to explore what is often accused of causing environmental damage: industry.

‘I believe it's important to learn about the history of industry, acknowledge its benefits and determine to what extent its presence is not harmful to the earth and people. From meeting colleagues from various backgrounds, we agreed to build a learning space and museum themed around industrial traces,’ said Anna.

With PlastikDetox, Anna and her co-workers have chosen to build the capacity of dedicated young people to organise themselves as a community, exposing them to values surrounding environmental protection and restoration.

PlastikDetox involves volunteers, particularly young people, who are trained and motivated to become environmentally conscious future leaders. About 80% of PlastikDetox’s activities are carried out by volunteers.

Leaving a Legacy Beyond a Cleaner Environment

Since PlastikDetox started in 2012, it has empowered over 200 businesses and joined regular collaborations. Anna is grateful for how the organisation has contributed to society.

‘A volunteer who has been with us for a year or two begins to grow the skills to be a mindful and active citizen,’ she said. ‘Our legacy is not in the number of kilograms of waste removed, or the number of workshops carried out. It's how people are shaped to play an active role in building a better society.’

Anna said her greatest personal achievement was to be recognised as a trustworthy person in formal and informal settings. ‘With this trait, I am able to connect people with similar ideas and missions, contributing to building the community,’ she said.

Ever the optimist, Anna shared her hope that people with a strong sense of justice would always come forward and fight for what’s right. She views Pancasila, Indonesia’s national ideology, as an apt guideline for the country.

‘If it is largely realised, we can become a great and proud nation,’ she concluded.