Entrepreneur, owner and director of Zero Waste Bali
The time is now to seize opportunities and provide the communities with eco solutions and help Bali recover with a greener and cleaner outlook.
Tell us your story – how did you get here?
Zero Waste Bali was born after a family snorkelling trip, when we saw how much plastic there was in the ocean. I started to make changes in the way we packaged baby food for my first business, Mini Muncher, and changed from plastic containers to glass jars. Small changes in the business lead me to ask myself “What else can I do to make a difference?”. Slowly but surely, Zero Waste Bali was born, becoming Bali and Indonesia’s first bulk food store. I wanted to help reduce plastic waste, educate through events, workshops, and social media, and make a change to help clean up Bali and reduce the waste being produced in the community.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Creating the movement of bulk food stores across Bali and Indonesia and opening the minds of others to the possibility of less waste. The movement has and is still growing and this is something that I am proud to be part of. It really warms my heart to see that many others are seeing the importance of reducing waste and making changes to their daily routines.
What impact have you made in Bali?
Through my actions I have educated the community on the importance of making simple and small changes to fight the plastic pollution we have in Bali. By opening Zero Waste Bali, I have created solutions for the community by means of eco products, food without plastic packaging, and assisted in educating the community to understand about reusing what they have, refilling as much as possible, and doing what they can when they can.
What does 2022 look like for you?
2022 is all about cementing foundations, growth and strengthening the movement of zero waste. I feel that because of the pandemic, many have lost insight to what zero waste is all about. I hope to reignite the spark in the community and share just how easy it is to make changes and reduce waste. The time is now to seize opportunities and provide the communities with eco solutions and help Bali recover with a greener and cleaner outlook.
What do you love most about Bali?
Anything is possible in Bali. Dreams can be made and accomplished! It takes time to understand the mechanics of Bali and really take in how the island flows, but the aura of Bali is like nowhere else in the world. Bali has a calm, positive, gentle and breezy flow that generates warmth, love and happiness.
What's one thing everyone can do to protect our home planet?
Be a conscious consumer. We live in a throw away culture. If more people really thought about what they were buying and asked themselves three simple questions, the planet would be in a better state than what it is now: “Do I love it? Do I need it? Can I live without it?” The key is to remember that simple actions make a huge difference.
Who is your Local Legend and why?
My local legend is Manuel Bergmann – I love the energy, dedication and proactive attitude that Manuel has in making a change. A young gun who is passionate in delivering the right message to the world.