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The coastlines of East Kalimantan, Indonesia, previously abundant with mangroves, aquatic life, and clean seas, is now struggling with the growing challenge of plastic waste. Without local collection and recycling options, plastic often ends up burned, dumped, or swept into the rivers that flow into the Makassar Strait.
This is where Second Life’s new project, launched with Caudalie, steps in. Our joint mission is simple yet transformative. By incentivizing the collection and recycling of ocean-bound plastic, we empower local communities, strengthen livelihoods, and build sustainable systems that protect both people and the planet.
What is Second Life Doing in Indonesia?
In July 2025, we launched our first project in Indonesia, marking a major milestone in our fight against plastic pollution across Southeast Asia.
In partnership with PT Waringin Plastindo Jaya, a recycling company based in East Java, the project is focused on building community-driven plastic collection networks along the coastline of East Kalimantan.
The project’s approach is rooted in collaboration. Second Life works hand in hand with villages to train community members and design waste management systems, offering financial incentives for local collectors who collect and sort plastic waste. Once collected, the plastic is transported to PT Waringin Plastindo Jaya’s recycling facility in East Java, where it is transformed into recycled flakes and pelletized chips which replace virgin plastic in the production of bottles, textiles, and packaging.
Driven by the Commitment of Caudalie
This project has been made possible through the ongoing commitment of Caudalie, and their 100% Ocean Plastic Collect Initiative. In Thailand, this collaboration has already resulted in over 3,788 tonnes of plastic being collected and recycled.
But why East Kalimantan? For Second Life and Caudalie, the answer is clear. Many of the province’s remote coastal communities have no formal waste management systems, leaving residents without a way to make the sustainable choice of recycling.
Having already championed a mangrove restoration project in the village of Muara Adang in East Kalimantan, Caudalie had seen the colossal impact that plastic pollution was having on communities and ecosystems there. This inspired their request to Second Life to start a new project, replicating the operational model we have used for the last five years in Thailand, and adapting it to the local context and requirements in East Kalimantan.
A Pilot Project with Big Potential
Progress so far has been promising, demonstrating the viability of this project model not only in East Kalimantan but also the potential to be replicated in other rural communities across Indonesia.
In the first 6 months, the project registered 67 collectors, engaged and trained 9 villages, and collected over 35 tons of plastic waste.
The project has been launched as a pilot with the aim to collect and recycle 100 tons of plastic in the first year, testing how Second Life’s successful model in Thailand can be adapted to Indonesia’s unique geography and social context. With promising early results, Second Life now plans to expand within Kalimantan and across Indonesia, welcoming new corporate partners to scale up and fund projects in other regions.
For Second Life, this isn’t just about implementing waste management systems, it’s about giving communities the tools to reclaim value from waste and build a cleaner, more resilient future.
