Natalia Wibowo, higher often known as Lia, witnessed the rising plastic waste downside in her hometown of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Whereas sensible options remained few and much between, she discovered it inconceivable simply to face by.
Her background in chemical engineering formed the best way she noticed the difficulty. Plastic baggage weren’t merely on a regular basis waste – they had been supplies that would stay within the surroundings for tons of of years.
Decided to be a part of the answer, Lia based Rajut Nusa, a small enterprise that transforms discarded plastic baggage into yarn, which is then crocheted into sturdy, handcrafted merchandise.
From residue to uncooked materials
Lia knew she needed to assist handle Yogyakarta’s rising plastic waste downside. What she didn’t know was how.
She spent a while researching and experimenting with a number of options till a YouTube video caught her consideration. It confirmed individuals crocheting with plastic baggage.
Lia instantly noticed its potential. Each for maintaining plastic baggage out of landfills for longer and for creating new sources of revenue for area people members.
That concept grew to become the muse of Rajut Nusa. Each product nonetheless begins with supplies that others have thrown away, from single-use plastic baggage and cloth scraps to broken floaties.
Within the early days, Lia collected and sorted each piece herself, sourcing discarded plastic baggage from waste banks throughout Yogyakarta or anyplace she might discover them.
As we speak, Rajut Nusa continues to work with round 4 waste banks, whereas most of the artisans who put together the plastic additionally accumulate baggage from their very own neighborhoods, typically receiving donations from native residents.
The entire waste processed since its first launch has reached greater than 162 kilograms of single-use plastic baggage, 21 kilograms of T-shirts and jersey scraps, and a couple of kilograms of different discarded supplies, together with milk cartons and broken floaties.
Lia at all times embraces the colours, prints, and patterns on every bit of waste. A grocery store emblem or a colourful graphic that when appeared on a disposable purchasing bag can turn out to be a part of the completed design, making each product one in every of a sort.
The individuals behind the product
Turning discarded plastic baggage into yarn stays an nearly completely handbook course of. Every bag is rigorously washed, folded to keep up a constant width, reduce into strips a couple of centimeter vast, and joined into lengthy strands of “plastic yarn” prepared for crocheting.
There aren’t any machines to hurry up the method – and that’s by design. Each stage is completed deliberately by hand, so Lia can create alternatives for individuals who aren’t capable of work formally.
What started with 5 freelance crocheters and one plastic cutter has grown right into a community of round 15 artisans working throughout Yogyakarta, Imogiri, Minggir, Bojonegoro, and Tuban.
Most are housewives in search of a solution to earn an revenue whereas caring for his or her households, whereas some are moms of kids with disabilities.
Lia has regularly shared her data with the artisans, enabling them to work extra independently. Each artisan works from residence and units their very own schedule, incomes fair-trade wages for each piece they produce.
Many are actually concerned in a number of phases of manufacturing, giving them better possession over the method and the pliability to handle their very own workload.
That flexibility, nevertheless, comes with its personal challenges. Plastic yarn is much less forgiving than standard yarn, making it harder to crochet persistently.
Mixed with a piece mannequin that permits artisans to decide on when and the way a lot they work, manufacturing timelines naturally differ from individual to individual.
Reasonably than imposing inflexible deadlines, Lia plans manufacturing round her artisans’ realities. Giant orders are communicated nicely prematurely, giving everybody sufficient time to prepare their workload with out sacrificing their household obligations.
For Lia, it’s a trade-off value making. Rajut Nusa was by no means meant to turn out to be the quickest or most effective manufacturing line. As a substitute, Lia measures success in another way.
She focuses on creating significant work for her artisans. In doing so, Rajut Nusa demonstrates that discarded plastic can create each environmental and financial worth.
Increasing attain by constructing a web-based presence
Rajut Nusa grew primarily by offline occasions, authorities packages, and partnerships with well-known retail shops. What started with 5 accomplice shops has since expanded to fifteen retail companions throughout Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Bandung, and Bali.
Because the enterprise grew, Lia realized that social media alone wasn’t sufficient. Whereas Instagram helped showcase Rajut Nusa’s merchandise, she wanted a devoted on-line residence the place clients, companions, and organizations might be taught extra in regards to the enterprise and its mission.
Earlier than Rajut Nusa had its personal web site, Lia’s husband, Janick, already had a Hostinger internet hosting plan for his or her ecotourism enterprise, Indonesia Eco Tour.
The couple selected Hostinger for its aggressive pricing after evaluating a number of internet hosting suppliers. Three years later, they’re nonetheless internet hosting their web sites with Hostinger, having had a clean expertise managing their first website.
Since Janick was already dealing with the technical aspect of the journey enterprise web site, constructing and sustaining Rajut Nusa’s on-line presence got here naturally to him.
When it was time to launch the brand new website, he merely added a brand new area and created one other WordPress web site by hPanel.
As a result of their internet hosting plan helps a number of web sites, there was no have to buy a separate internet hosting account. Constructed-in WordPress administration instruments dealt with a lot of the setup, making it fast and easy to get Rajut Nusa on-line.
The web site wasn’t constructed to interchange Rajut Nusa’s current gross sales channels. In Indonesia, most clients nonetheless desire to put orders through WhatsApp, whereas Instagram is the first platform for showcasing merchandise and connecting with patrons.
As a substitute, the web site grew to become the enterprise’s digital residence. It helps Rajut Nusa set up credibility when making use of for enterprise competitions, introducing itself to potential companions, or connecting with organizations that wish to be taught extra about its mission earlier than getting in contact.
Its function has additionally advanced regularly over time. After enhancing the positioning’s search engine marketing (website positioning), Lia started receiving inquiries from individuals who found Rajut Nusa by on-line search slightly than phrase of mouth – a small however significant shift that launched the enterprise to thoroughly new audiences.
What’s subsequent for Rajut Nusa
When requested whether or not Rajut Nusa has turn out to be the sustainable enterprise she envisioned, Lia didn’t give a straight sure.
The enterprise operations are nonetheless run by a lean group consisting of Lia and a advertising supervisor, with little price range to spare for advertising.
Though income continues to develop yr over yr, revenue margins stay tight – simply sufficient to pay the artisans pretty and maintain work flowing.
These challenges haven’t modified her conviction.
Figuring out that the work she’s doing proper now brings actual impression is what retains Lia transferring. Each order helps create revenue for artisans who may in any other case battle to seek out versatile employment, whereas giving discarded plastic a second life.
That mission has additionally begun attracting wider recognition. By competitions, neighborhood packages, and talking alternatives, Rajut Nusa has reached audiences {that a} modest advertising price range by no means might.
In 2025, Rajut Nusa’s work earned a spot within the CSR program of one in every of Asia’s largest multinational firms, the place Lia obtained coaching to assist scale and strengthen the enterprise.
Shifting ahead, she hopes to develop the community across the enterprise – connecting with extra artisans, collaborating with communities, environmental organizations, or authorities packages, and reaching extra individuals who imagine that sustainability and social impression can go hand in hand.
This story of Rajut Nusa proves that innovation doesn’t at all times imply inventing one thing from scratch. Generally, it merely means seeing potential the place others see waste.
Larassatti Dharma is a content material author with 4+ years of expertise within the webhosting trade. She has populated the web with over 100 YouTube scripts and articles round webhosting, digital advertising, and e mail advertising. When she’s not writing, Laras enjoys solo touring across the globe or attempting new recipes in her kitchen. Comply with her on LinkedIn
