Awesome! Pertamina’s Fostered MSME’s Zero Waste Jewelry Goes Global

Jakarta, January 4, 2024 - High-class jewelry is often associated with gold, silver, or gemstones. However, for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) such as Artistica Jewelry, the luxury of jewelry emerges from creativity and the finesse of presenting art pieces made from glass waste. Jewelry adorned with touches of pendants and glass bead waste produced in Ngagel Tama Selatan, Surabaya, has gained global recognition. 

Sieltje Kurniawan, the owner of Artistica Jewelry MSME, presents a concept in her business, which revolves around reducing waste by transforming it into valuable jewelry. It is achieved through collaborations with other MSMEs and a focus on the younger generation's development. This concept aligns with the products showcased in her gallery, brimming with astonishing jewelry crafted from discarded items. Currently, 90% of Artistica Jewelry's products have been exported to Sweden, Puerto Rico, and Malaysia.

"Glass shards are typically seen as valueless or even hazardous material, yet we felt challenged after many international customers requested jewelry made from recycled materials. Consequently, we started producing plastic, glass (from perfume bottles, broken ceramic plates and cups), as well as waste from pearl shell skins and other materials, transforming them into brooches, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces," Sieltje, the owner of Artistica Jewelry, explained.

Sieltje admits that to create jewelry orders for her customers, she collaborates with jewelry craftsmen and stone cutters in the Pasuruan region, East Java. This collaboration is essential due to the required skills and precision in sorting, cutting, and faceting recycled glass to shape it like gemstones.

"They work traditionally, making it highly possible for customers to customize the jewelry they dream of. This collaboration aims to empower craftsmen, making this business not just about seeking profit but also carrying social, economic, and environmental missions," stated the woman who continued her parents' business since 2016.

Moreover, Artistica Jewelry collaborates with waste collectors and orphanages, accepts internships from vocational schools and universities, collaborates with the Diaspora, the Department of Industry and Trade, the Cooperative Office, and other entities to support the production process and markets its products locally, internationally, and through foreign e-commerce. "Collaborations are also established with MSMEs such as Khen Tenun (NTT) and Lusee Bag Leather to create jewelry from production remnants," Sieltje emphasized.

The waste utilization concept and MSMEs’ empowerment have made Artistica Jewelry the 3rd winner of the Pertapreneur Aggregator 2023. The Pertapreneur program is a business proposal competition among Pertamina's partner businesses with community and environmental impacts.

VP of Corporate Communication of PT Pertamina (Persero), Fajar Djoko Santoso, stated that Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) focusing on environmental issues in their products have a greater chance of expanding their market globally. Therefore, Pertamina has mentorship programs for its partner MSMEs by implementing the Go Green program in their business operations.

"MSMEs that prioritize environmental issues in their business operations, such as utilizing waste products and employing eco-friendly production processes, indirectly educate consumers and have opportunities to expand their market reach, as environmental issues have become a global concern," he noted.

Sustainability awareness influences consumer preferences, aligning with the currently popular environmentally friendly lifestyle (Go Green). Fajar hopes that Pertamina's program for MSMEs can have a positive impact, drive progress, and enhance the capacity and quality of Indonesian MSMEs.

Pertamina, as a leading company in the energy transition, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuously promoting programs that directly impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement. All these efforts align with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) implementation across all Pertamina's business lines and operations.**