Guided by the sustainability commitment of its founders, Barito Pacific Group, through its philanthropic foundation, Bakti Barito, consistently places environmental conservation, education, and community development at the core of its mission. Recognizing that Indonesia’s future heavily relies on the interconnectedness of these crucial sectors, Bakti Barito actively designs and supports scalable solutions with long-term positive impacts to address various pressing social and ecological challenges in the country, one of which is the waste problem.
As an innovative step in tackling the waste crisis in Indonesia, Bakti Barito officially marked the groundbreaking ceremony for the use of plastic bricks in the construction of the new SDN 3 Sukanegla school building, which utilizes residual plastic waste. Not only the brick components, but all structural elements such as floor panels, ceilings, roofs, as well as pipes to window and door frames, all utilize plastic waste. In total, this innovative project will transform approximately 15 tons of residual plastic waste into 2 comfortable classrooms and 2 toilet units for the children there.
This significant initiative specifically targets low-value residual plastics—the type of plastic waste currently accumulating the most in local landfills (TPA). Unlike other types of plastics such as PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate – widely used for bottled drinks), PP (Polypropylene – widely used for food and beverage containers), and HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene – widely used for shampoo bottles and jerrycans packaging), these types of residual plastics like instant noodle wrappers and sachets have absolutely no economic value in the recycling market. As a result, this type of waste is routinely ignored by scavengers and informal sector workers because it cannot be resold to commercial recycling plants.By creating alternative uses for this neglected waste, the project successfully diverts tons of plastic waste from the ecosystem and opens a new chapter in the circular economy.
During her remarks, Fifi Pangestu, Executive Director of Bakti Barito, reiterated that environmental innovations must be able to bring positive impacts and tangible benefits directly to local residents. She also appreciated the courage of the Garut Regency Government for their willingness to pioneer the adoption of this innovative solution. “This plastic waste challenge also gives us the opportunity to build something valuable for future generations. Through the collaboration of local governments and technology partners, we prove that residual plastics can be part of the solution by building spaces for children to learn and helping to reduce the burden on the environment. Change can happen when citizens, innovators, governments, and the private sector walk together.”
Bakti Barito hopes this initiative can become a catalyst for broader change across Indonesia, inspiring other regions to tackle the waste problem with eco-friendly infrastructure development. The school’s construction is targeted to be completed in a few weeks, and its inauguration will be held in July 2026 at the start of the new Academic Year.
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About Bakti Barito Foundation
Established in 2011, Bakti Barito Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Barito Pacific Group, an integrated energy company with diversified entities such as Chandra Asri Group, Barito Renewables (incl. Star Energy Geothermal), Griya Idola, Petrindo Jaya Kreasi (incl. Petrosea), Indo Raya Tenaga, and more.
Guided by the enduring commitment of our founders, Prajogo Pangestu and his wife Harlina Tjandinegara, the foundation is dedicated to addressing Indonesia’s environmental and educational challenges through collaborative initiatives with our partners and the communities we serve. For more information, please visit baktibarito.com, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and X.
Media contact: info@baktibarito.com