Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) has reaffirmed its commitment to integrating circular economy principles into the government’s priority programs, beginning with the nationwide Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) initiative. The ministry aims to ensure that food production, food waste, and wastewater generated by Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) are managed as valuable resources rather than environmental burdens.
The commitment was announced by Deputy Minister of Environment and Deputy Head of KLH/BPLH Diaz Hendropriyono during the panel discussion, “Moving Forward: Indonesia’s Climate Agenda in a Fragmented World,” at the Indonesia Net-Zero Summit 2026, organized by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) in Jakarta.
Diaz said the ministry is providing technical assistance to SPPG facilities across the country to establish circular ecosystems that minimize waste while maximizing environmental and economic benefits.
“Our objective is to ensure that every Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit operates within a circular system. Circularity must become an integral part of everything we do, including the President’s priority programs,” Diaz said.
The ministry has already implemented pilot projects that demonstrate how circular economy practices can support both environmental protection and local food production.
At the Halim SPPG facility in Jakarta, KLH/BPLH installed a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) that processes wastewater for agricultural irrigation. According to Diaz, the treated water now supplies approximately 6.5 hectares of rice fields, enabling farmers to harvest rice three times a year.
“This demonstrates that the Free Nutritious Meals Program is not only about providing food but can also contribute to producing more food through sustainable resource management,” he said.
KLH/BPLH emphasized that circular economy solutions do not always depend on advanced technologies. Instead, they can be built upon local knowledge and community-based practices tailored to regional conditions.
Diaz cited the SPPG facility in Gorontalo, Labuan Bajo, as an example where food waste is converted into livestock feed for nearby pig farms, while used cooking oil is collected and recycled. He said each region has unique ecological characteristics and local wisdom that can support customized waste management solutions.
“Every region has its own local wisdom and practical solutions. Our role is to identify those strengths and support the most appropriate circular economy model for each community,” he said.
The deputy minister also stressed that expanding circular economy practices is increasingly urgent as Indonesia faces growing climate risks.
He referred to projections indicating that approximately 1,500 small islands could be submerged by 2050 and more than 115 medium-sized islands by 2100 if climate change is not effectively addressed.
“We must ensure that Indonesia continues to exist. Circularity must become part of every production system so that these projections never become reality,” Diaz said.
The Indonesia Net-Zero Summit 2026 brought together senior Indonesian government officials and international leaders, including Environment Minister Moh Jumhur Hidayat, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Water Retno Marsudi, China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin, and representatives from various ministries and institutions to discuss strategies for accelerating Indonesia’s climate and sustainability agenda. (*)
