Turning waste into opportunity for jakarta’s coastal community

In Kalibaru, a vibrant but under-resourced district in North Jakarta, one simple shell is sparking an inspiring story of resilience, opportunity, and environmental innovation. Known for its bustling green mussel industry, Kalibaru has a long tradition of mussel farming and fishing. Today, this historic coastal community is using its defining feature — the green mussel — to tackle poverty, pollution, and the effects of climate change head-on.

The Challenge: From Bounty to Burden

Kalibaru’s green mussels are not just a delicious and affordable source of protein; they’re a lifeline for the community. But the industry’s labor-intensive processes, managed mainly by women who prepare, clean, and process these mussels by hand, have an unseen side effect: mountains of shell waste. Each processing stall produces around 20 sacks of discarded shells daily — totaling more than 2,300 kg each day among the 23 stalls surveyed. When harvest season peaks, this number doubles or even triples, creating an avalanche of waste that has nowhere to go.

With waste transfer stations refusing the shells and limited waste infrastructure, workers are left with few options. Many discard the shells in the sea, polluting the coastline, endangering marine ecosystems, and harming the health of the very community that relies on these waters for survival. And as if this wasn’t enough, Kalibaru’s coastal location exposes it to regular flooding, extreme weather, and coastal erosion, pushing the community to the brink.

A Transformative Solution: Co-Creating Opportunity

Recognizing the urgency, Bappeda Jakarta (Jakarta Development Planning Agency) and the Resilient Cities Network joined forces with local leaders to find sustainable, scalable solutions. The result? An innovative approach that reimagines mussel shells from waste into opportunity. In partnership with the Catalyzing City Resilience Solutions (CCRS) program and organizations like Kota Kita Foundation, Playo, and PPSW Jakarta, the project set out to empower Kalibaru’s community, especially the women mussel peelers, through skill-building, entrepreneurship, and environmental stewardship.

With hands-on training in business management and organizational development, Kalibaru’s Cangkring group — a collective of shell processors — began to transform their work. Empowered with new tools, they could see a future where mussel shells became more than waste. Five industrial designers collaborated with Cangkring to turn these shells into valuable products: from table lamps and phone holders to eco-friendly paving blocks and compost. Their creations took on a new life, embodying not just function but resilience.

From Workshop to Marketplace: Building Kalibaru’s Future

March 2023 marked a turning point. The three best designs were selected — innovative, sustainable, and feasible to produce locally. Designers Conture, Greenie, and Studio Dapur worked directly with the community during a three-day residency, refining each product for market-readiness and environmental impact. Soon after, the North Jakarta government noticed the progress. Through JakPreneur, a platform supporting SMEs, Cangkring gained new backing for quality testing and product development. These once-discarded shells were now paving the way to a brighter future, and Kalibaru’s green mussel shell paving stones are set to become a symbol of transformation.

Catalyzing Impact: The Kalibaru Hub

With support from Resilient Community Impact Funds (RCIFunds) — a resilience innovation fund established by Bank of America — Kalibaru’s journey took another leap forward. The grant will establish the Kalibaru Hub, a central innovation space designed to support SMEs and foster sustainable entrepreneurship. This hub will tackle waste management issues and serve as a community-driven incubator for environmentally friendly products, providing resources and business opportunities to small enterprises like the Cangkring group.

Through partnerships with United Cities and Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) and Bappeda Jakarta, the Kalibaru Hub will stand as a beacon of resilience, where innovation meets local talent to create lasting change.

A Green Mussel Revolution

Kalibaru’s green mussels are now more than a staple food; they’re a pathway to resilience, unity, and innovation. Through this program, the community is rewriting its story — from being on the edge of survival to becoming a model for sustainable coastal living in Jakarta. This project is far more than an environmental initiative; it’s a testament to what’s possible when community, creativity, and resilience come together.

Kalibaru is turning its green mussels into a green opportunity. The journey is still unfolding, but its impact is already resonating across Jakarta’s coastlines, where the once-overlooked shells now shine as symbols of a community’s strength and ingenuity.

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