Helping Hands

Closing the Loop: Lombok Tourism and the Circular Economy

“Humankind is currently entering a new Industrial Revolution, which would be our THIRD one”

–Jeremy Rifkin, The Third Industrial Revolution

Many people believe humankind is facing its biggest environmental challenge ever.

The first Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth century saw the introduction of coal-fuelled engines, the telegraph and printing presses, and the second, at the start of the twentieth century, brought fuel oil, combustion engines, electricity and the telephone. Now, the third Industrial Revolution highlights renewables, the Internet, digitalisation, drones, and more….

The scientific community believes all this is leading to a potential environmental crisis. And two other factors are making it worse: 1. The linear economy. This industrial model is about production, consumption and disposal “Take, Make,

Waste.” It treats resources as unlimited, ignores the consequences of using them (pollution, waste, inequality, and depletion), and puts economic benefits first. 2. The massive growth of human populations.

We face the loss of natural resources, declining productivity, slow growth, rising unemployment, inequality, and climate concerns. These challenges are forcing us to rethink current economical models.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also demonstrated how rapidly things can change and how vulnerable our production and economic systems are. For over a year, Paula has been working actively with the NTB Provincial Government on pilot projects that aim to transform Lombok Island into an example of best practice, not only in Indonesia but around the world.

The projects focus on economic, environmental and social improvement, and also point to a possible alternative: the

circular economy.

What is the circular economy?

The circular economy looks beyond the 'Take, Make, Waste' model. It rests on 3 major principles: • We need to protect and care for Earth’s resources. • Products, components and materials must be either biodegradable (in the biological cycle) or reusable (in the technical cycle). We must design out waste – that means no garbage. • We must take the ‘negatives’ out of the system and never ignore pollution, contamination, the depletion of resources, and the social impact of our actions.

“Only human beings produce garbage,” says Paula. “The natural world works in a cyclical way. We must learn from Nature so we can ensure our survival on the planet.”

The circular economy is explained in more detail by the Ellen McArthur Foundation.

What does this mean for tourism in Lombok?

The tourism sector is one of the most resource intensive sectors in the world. People consume more, and spend more during their holiday time than in their normal daily lives. In many regions, including Southeast Asia, tourism is the primary source of foreign exchange, employment and cash flow.

“Tourism, however, involves traffic, noise, pollution, nonstop construction, waste, and lots of energy and water consumption”, says Paula. “These things put an expiry date on the specific tourism region – and also on the planet.”

“New tourism planning tends to follow the linear economy model: grow, ignore the impacts and focus on the money only.”

Paula believes this is an obsolete planning model, with no consideration or enforcement with regard to renewables or lowering of emissions, no targets or incentives for sustainable building, no waste management systems or efficient transportation strategies.

Development will increase the environmental impact on the region. Our businesses will make more money but we have to ask important questions.

Where are we going to get enough fresh water? We are in a water stressed region; we already face droughts every year, and dry seasons are getting longer. Where will electricity come from? We already have monthly power cuts. Indonesia uses mostly coal to produce electricity; think about CO2 emissions, and the pledge to the Paris Agreement.

How will tourists move around, or park their cars? There is no sustainable public transport infrastructure.

And where will all the garbage go? Without efficient waste management, we will be buried under garbage.

It is very clear that the tourism sector needs to be “greener”, more resilient, and more sustainable. We also need to ask how tourism will make Lombok better – in terms of its long term economy, its precious resources, its investors and, of course, the local people.

The answers to these questions are not always easy, but Lombok Island starts with a huge advantage.

“There is time to make things better”, Paula continues. “Believe it or not, Covid has thrown us an early warning.

We can rethink our economical model and, most important, the NTB Provincial Government has the opportunity to focus on the Green Transformation that the area needs.”

Two major projects, which started as community led initiatives, have been embraced and supported by the Government.

The Lombok Eco Flea Market

Established in 2019, as a one-off event at The Patio Lombok, the Lombok Eco Flea Market (LEFM) is now a collective of community-led, pop-up markets that offer locally-produced, earth-friendly products at various locations around Lombok Island.

Each market promotes Green Positive Impact through six guiding principles: 1. Women’s Empowerment: Support Local Makers 2. Conscious Shopping: Buy Less, Choose Well. 3. Circular Economy: Reuse, Repair, Recycle 4. Earth-Friendly Lifestyle: Start with Easy Swaps 5. Local Roots: Local Organic from Local Farms 6. Pop Up: Smaller Space and Impact, Bigger Reach It has been a very successful business model.

“We began with six potential vendors, who were following the six principles. They put us in contact with more people and we just kept growing. We provide opportunity for local businesses without destroying the environment we depend on.”

Now, nearly 50 local businesses have been certified as “Lombok Eco Flea Market” vendors.

“This is an example of a perfectly earth friendly and popular tourist attraction, aligned with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Goals. It can help brand Lombok as an environmentally friendly place.”

There are plans to make the markets one of NTB’s official tourism events and, in collaboration with the NTB Provincial Government, the Mataram Eco Flea Market/Eco-Conscious Festival will be established in 2021.

Circular Lombok

The Circular Lombok initiative will focus on efforts to transform Lombok Island, and will: • Reduce the impact of construction and building operations • Improve growing practices and phase out pesticides • Manage water and waste, using circular strategies • Make the transition towards renewable energy • Involve local communities in the Green Transformation.

Quite a few projects and ideas from the Circular Lombok Initiative have been put on hold, due to Covid. However, as Paula tells us, one project has progressed significantly.

The Black Soldier Fly Project

“It’s an organic waste conversion system. The work is done by insects, not by machines. With the help of the Black Soldier Fly, organic waste is turned into protein-rich compost. A pilot project in Desa Sengkol has the capacity to convert 1 ton of waste per day. We aim to achieve at least 7 tons.”

The project is a shared effort. Everyone – local people and the public and private sectors – takes responsibility, and everyone benefits.

“Out of food waste, we get compost and insect protein, which is a natural fertiliser for crops and animal feed. It's a complete loop”, says Paula.

It also prevents organic waste going into landfill and producing methane emissions.

As well as the benefits for farmers and for public health, the project will result in a cleaner island. The project is a great example of how the circular economy works.

“It’s a sustainable process, where we work with nature”, Paula concludes. “And this is what the world needs. There are endless things that all of us can do to accelerate the green transformation, and the time is now. We honestly don't have any alternative.”

paula@bambookstudio.com www.bambookstudio.com