What can you build out of plastic waste? At Our Goals, we see opportunity.

After witnessing Indonesia’s haze crisis in 2019, we envisioned solutions. We assembled a team of local partners and an NGO to uplift villages through education. Together, we have created innovative schools from recycled plastic. These sustainable buildings provide students with vibrant classrooms and hope for the future.

Our first recycled plastic-based school opened in Lombok in 2023. Smiles outshone the sun as students walked through its colourful doors. But this was just the start.

How Do We Do It? Constructing Schools in Indonesia with Recycled Blocks

Being home to about 267 million people, strong economic growth, and an expanding middle class are driving the consumption of more and more products containing some sort of plastic. Indonesia is currently estimated to produce more than 190,000 tons of waste each day, the majority (around 57%) of which is organic waste.

According to the UN, plastic contributes around 25,000 tons per day to total waste, and 20% is believed to end up in rivers and coastal waters. Indonesia is believed to be the world’s second-largest contributor to ocean plastic pollution. In addition, tens of thousands of children across Indonesia lack access to any learning environment.

The issue of plastic waste in Indonesia – Mandalika Beach, Lombok – Photo by Our Goals

Our Goals’ answer to the dual challenge of waste management and improving educational development was found in innovative building blocks. These blocks, created in partnership with Finland-based Block Solutions, are an alternative to traditional materials and a leap forward in sustainable construction.

The Process of Making Blocks

The recycled blocks are the cornerstone of our school construction projects in Lombok. These blocks reduce the carbon footprint compared to conventional concrete construction, supporting our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by mitigating climate impact and reducing plastic waste.

An Our Goals school under construction in Lombok

The blocks are used to build schools lasting up to 100 years. For every classroom built, 2-3 tons of locally sourced recycled plastic, including food wrappers and PET bottles, are used. Using an injection moulding system, a single block takes about one minute to produce. The blocks used to build Our Goals-funded schools are now locally produced in Lombok by Block Solutions Indonesia, reducing the schools’ carbon footprint.

Blocks being finished at the Block Solutions factory, Lombok

The blocks are made using an advanced injection moulding process. This efficient method melts down recycled plastics, namely PP, PET, and HDPE, and pours them into moulds to form the building blocks. The key component of Blocks is a sustainable biocomposite, a mix of recycled polypropylene and a variety of locally available organic fibres from traceable, FSC-certified local origins. By localising production in Indonesia, we cut costs, significantly reduce our carbon footprint and support local economies by providing employment opportunities.

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Our Goals Founder, Ana Ponea at Block Solutions, Lombok

The blocks produced by Block Solutions have several advantages over traditional building materials:

Economical Construction: The blocks are made from innovative materials and enable swift assembly for safe, budget-friendly buildings with low carbon footprints.
Adaptable and Relocatable: Schools can be adapted to suit changing needs and can be extended or re-configured through easy disassembly and reconstruction.
Sustainable Composition: The blocks are made from a sustainable bio-composite, blending recycled polypropylene with local organic fibres, all sourced responsibly.
Safety: The blocks produced by Block Solutions have undergone studies to check their ability to withstand earthquakes.

Construction of one of the first schools to be made from recycled blocks in Lombok – Photo by Our Goals

Safety Through Expert Design

In a region where earthquakes and tsunamis are a concern, the safety of schools funded through Our Goals is our key consideration. Lombok suffered major earthquakes in 2018 that damaged over 1,100 schools, so durable school buildings are a must. The blocks used to construct the schools funded by Our Goals are designed to offer increased protection during earthquakes. Witness an Our Goals school being built for one of our corporate CSR projects.

The materials’ lightweight nature significantly lowers the structure’s vulnerability to seismic forces. This innovative design approach has been supported by the extensive research of Professor Ayman S. Mosallam, who has confirmed that such buildings offer a higher degree of safety due to their low mass and the resulting lower seismic design forces. His work helps us ensure that in the event of seismic activity, the reduced mass of the blocks minimises the impact on the building and its occupants, making our block schools a safer choice for communities.

Constructing Sustainable Schools

Building a Block School combines engineering and community effort. It begins with laying a solid foundation upon which these lightweight blocks are stacked with precision and ease. With a design that allows for interlocking, similar to building blocks, a single classroom can be assembled in 5-8 hours by a small team and an entire school within around 5 days, depending on the size. This rapid assembly model ensures that the educational needs of a community are met swiftly without sacrificing quality or safety.

A Commitment to Integrity and Sustainability

Our sustainable procurement policy is central to our operations, ensuring that every step, from material sourcing to construction, aligns with our core values of integrity and sustainability, grounded within the framework of the SDGs.

Our Goals partner with a local NGO with on-the-ground expertise in helping local communities and operational practices that respect human rights, local labour rules, and the surrounding environment while maintaining a stringent anti-corruption stance.

Preparing the Schools

Before students arrive for their first day of school, community volunteers join to add colourful, creative touches to the classrooms – painting murals and bringing the new, clean spaces to life. Hand washing stations and a toilet are also provided with a focus on hygiene. This collaborative work, provision for a safe environment, and a rich learning experience spark community pride in the schools.

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Exterior of one of the schools made from recycled blocks in Lombok – Photo by Our Goals

Our Goals: Leading the Way in CSR Consulting Services

At Our Goals, we help businesses create and implement successful CSR programs.

By building sustainable schools in Indonesia, we are proof of what can happen when CSR consulting knowledge is combined with a love of learning and concern for the environment.

Contact us to learn more about Our Goals’ projects in Indonesia and how you can create a positive impact while elevating your company’s CSR initiatives.

Inside one of the classrooms made from recycled blocks in Lombok – Photo by Our Goals

Conclusion

At Our Goals, we are passionate about crafting a future for CSR that positively impacts the environment, local communities and meets the educational needs of the next generation. The innovative plastic blocks we build our schools from play a key role in reducing carbon footprint and helping provide access to quality education. Made using an efficient injection moulding process, the blocks’ composition makes them more affordable, adaptable, and earthquake-resilient.

Our Goals is proud to be at the forefront of a new era in CSR. We demonstrate how environmental challenges can be transformed into community development and educational opportunities. We invite you to join us, share your thoughts, and partner with us in your company’s next CSR project. Let’s improve sustainability and education, one block at a time.