The Upcycle Project Keep Labuan Bajo Pretty As it is, without plastic!

Plastic waste may be a significant challenge, but it is not insurmountable. Komodo Water’s Upcycle Project is proof of that. By transforming plastic waste into unique products, Komodo Water is not only reducing waste but also protecting the environment and paving the way for a more sustainable future.

The Plastic problem

Plastic pollution is not just a significant global environmental problem; it is urgent. Every year, between 4.8 and 12.7 million tons of Plastic find their way into our oceans, with additional waste scattered in forests, lakes, and cities (European Parliament, 2018). This dire situation is wreaking havoc on our planet, severely impacting ecosystems, humans, and animals.

Plastic is one of the world’s most widely used materials due to its durability, versatility, and low production cost. However, these very characteristics make Plastic a serious environmental threat. Plastics can take centuries to degrade, releasing increasing amounts of microplastics into the water, soil and the food chain. During this breakdown process, toxic chemicals can accumulate in the Plastic.  These tiny plastic particles are often mistaken for food by various marine organisms. Many aquatic creatures, including fish and marine mammals, die from ingesting Plastic, as it disrupts their digestion and can lead to starvation. Microplastics do not just stay in the ocean but also enter the food chain through bioaccumulation. Harmful particles are transferred from small organisms to larger animals and humans (Nichols, 2014).

Effective recycling and upcycling of plastics are not just beneficial but also essential to fight against this dangerous issue. We can only pave the way for a plastic-free future and minimize environmental and human health damage through responsible waste management and innovative recycling methods. (Zhao, 2021)

The Plastic waste journey

The Idea

Komodo Water is part of the Indo-Pacific Plastic Innovation Network. This initiative brings together companies, organizations, and innovators to drive solutions to plastic pollution in the Indo-Pacific region. As a member of this network, we take responsibility for our products and processes. We aim to use our business opportunities to create sustainable products and make a measurable positive environmental impact.

That is why we make keychains and other upcycled products with various designs by hand here in Labuan Bajo. The Plastic used to make these keychains is collected from beaches, public spaces, cafés, and hotels around Labuan Bajo and transformed into a keychain in a multi-step process.

We make our keychains from HDPE plastic (high-density polyethene), a thermoplastic material known for its high strength. HDPE is particularly well-suited for upcycling projects due to its robustness and high-temperature resistance. HDPE is commonly used to make shampoo bottles, detergent bottles, oil containers, plastic bottle caps, hotel toiletries, milk bottles, pipes, and medicine bottles.  Upcycling transforms waste materials into new, valuable products, contributing to a circular economy (Zhao, 2021).

The Process Part I: Collecting Plastic and Community Engagement

Our efforts to collect HDPE Plastic from Komodo National Park, the Komodo Biosphere Reserve, and Labuan Bajo are not solitary. We work hand in hand with the local community, united in our goal to remove as much Plastic as possible from the environment, prevent improper disposal, and protect both the ecosystems and the natural landscape.

On the one hand, plastic waste is collected from beaches, parks, and forests during beach clean-up days with the community’s support. On the other hand, HDPE plastic is collected from hotels and cafés and then handed over to Komodo Water, which recycles it into a new product—the keychain. In addition, to ensure that Plastic is properly disposed of and does not end up in the environment, collection bins are placed in high-traffic areas.

Pilot Project Papagarang – 1Kg of plastic waste = 1 gallon of drinking water

The pilot project on Papagarang Island is a plastic collection system that rewards residents with free drinking water. For every kilogram of sorted and cleaned HDPE plastic, the locals receive one gallon of drinking water at no cost.  The project’s primary goal is to reduce plastic waste on the island while encouraging the community to contribute to environmental protection. At the same time, it addresses the issue of drinking water supply by providing residents with an affordable way to access clean water.

The process part II

Sorting & Cleaning: The next step is to sort the collected HDPE plastic by material type and colour. After sorting, the Plastic is cleaned to remove sand and other contaminants. These two steps—sorting and Cleaning—are crucial to ensuring the quality of the final product and allowing for a wide variety of colours in the keychains.

Granulating & Melting: After sorting and cleaning, the Plastic is shredded into small granules. These granules are then melted under controlled temperatures to form a homogeneous mass. The melting point of HDPE plastic is between 128°C and 136°C. The molten Plastic is then pressed into a moulding using pressure to create the final shape of the keyring.

Cooling and Solidification: The now molten plastic mass is placed in a moulding and controlled cooling, solidifying the material into the desired shape.

Assembly and packaging: After cooling, the keyring is polished, sharp corners and edges are removed, and the key ring is attached. The finished product is prepared for further use in environmentally friendly packaging

We may be part of the problem, but we can also be part of the solution.

Do you or your company want to be part of the solution to plastic pollution? You can! Collect your HDPE plastic waste, sort it, and clean it, and we will pick it up to transform it into a new product.  By doing this, you’re not only positively impacting the environment but also creating your own keychain logo or another upcycled product.  We accept the following types of waste:

• Mineral water bottle
• HDPE: shampoo bottle, soap bottle, oil bottle etc.

Are you interested? Watch how we upcycle plastic waste in our YouTube video! https://youtu.be/2EmFamsmhCA?si=FZQ6sl9iFIKmJIEh  & feel free to contact us at:

KOMODO WATER – PT. TINAMITRA MANDIRI

Jl. Lamber Kape, Labuan Bajo, Komodo,
Manggarai Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur
Phone: +62-822-1108-5611
Email: waterkomodo@gmail.com
Instagram: @komodowater

Sources

1. European Parliament (2018): Plastic in the ocean: Facts, impacts, and new EU regulations. Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/de/article/20181005STO15110/plastik-im-meer-fakten-auswirkungen-und-neue-eu-regelungen(Accessed: 27 March 2025).
2. Nichols, W. (2014) Plastic pollution: An ocean emergency. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268187066(Accessed: 27 March 2025).
3. Zhao, X. et al. (2021) ‘Plastic waste upcycling toward a circular economy’, Chemical Engineering Journal, 428, 131928. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385894721035087(Accessed: 27 March 2025).