Indonesia, a land of breathtaking natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, is also grappling with a growing environmental crisis – plastic pollution. As the archipelago struggles to manage its waste, its stunning beaches, lush rainforests, and diverse marine life are increasingly threatened by plastic debris. This issue not only poses a significant challenge for Indonesia but also contributes to the global concern of plastic pollution.
To address the issue, two affiliated organizations – Sungai Watch and Sungai Design have joined forces to clear Bali’s waterways and repurpose the unearthed waste into useful products.
The first part of the process is lead by the “River Warriors” of Sungai Watch, an environmental organization on a mission to protect and restore our world’s rivers. By developing and designing simple floating trash barriers and operating a collection, sorting and up-cycling system, the organization has created a scalable approach to tackling plastic pollution. Till date, Sungai Watch has installed 300 barriers, collected 2,372,676 kg of plastic and cleaned over 260 villages.
Once the waste is cleaned and sorted, it is passed on to sister company Sungai Design, a purpose-driven design company on a mission to up-cycle as much river plastic into unique products to help fund river cleanups around the world.
“Collecting and amassing plastic waste solves one part of the problem of plastic pollution.
The second challenge is what to actually do with all of this plastic. As we collected hundreds
of thousands of kilograms of plastics, we started to look at plastic as an excellent source material for everyday products we all need and use, from furniture to small goods to even
art.” – Kelly Bencheghib, Sungai Design Co-Founder.
After a thorough cleaning process, the waste is shredded and pressed into large panels. CNC technologies are then used to intricately sculpt the plastic sheets into a series of parametric panels that form the structure of the Ombak chair. This process ensures that the chair combines comfort and style while leaving no offcuts or waste behind. The name “Ombak,” meaning “wave” in Indonesian, pays homage to Sungai Design’s dedication to reducing plastic pollution in rivers and oceans. Available in two variations (with armrest and without), each chair is made from 2,000 plastic bags that have been 100% up-cycled and rescued from Indonesia’s rivers by Sungai Watch.
By transforming discarded river plastic into stunning and functional furniture, Sungai Design is leading the charge towards a future of innovative and sustainable design. With a commitment to minimal carbon footprint, meticulously traced sources of plastic, and a pledge to donate a portion of its revenue to Sungai Watch for the ongoing clean-up efforts across Indonesia and beyond, Sungai Design is reshaping the way we perceive and utilize recycled materials.
