Many eco-activists and environmental institutions are sounding the alarm over Indonesia’s critical environmental situation. In 2018, the capital Jakarta was ranked as one of the world’s most polluted cities, and the situation has only gotten worse since then. The air is polluted primarily by fuel transport, industries and deforestation.
The scale of the Indonesian ecological disaster is as horrifying as even during the COVID-19 pandemic when most cities faced significant enhancement of air quality, Jakarta still didn’t get a chance to take a deep breath of fresh air.
Eco-activists rightly call on businesses to join the fight against environmental degradation and help government agencies to achieve their goals.
But what contribution can startups make?
It is not only big business that is able to influence global world processes. Young and emerging technology companies also have the resources and potential to make the world a better place.
For example, Algenesis uses its patented technology to produce eco-friendly plastic made from algae, thereby solving the problem of soil and ocean pollution from non-degradable materials. The same issue drives Paboco, which produces 100 per cent recyclable paper bottles.
Speaking of Indonesia, you can see many entrepreneurs that are not afraid to join the fight for a brighter future there too. CarbonEthics, a cleantech startup, is accelerating the supply of high-quality carbon credits. Their innovations help corporations, SMEs and individuals to reduce their carbon footprint.
As a mobility fintech startup, IVITECH is dedicated to empowering mobility entrepreneurs across Asia and especially Indonesia by providing them with access to vehicles and innovative solutions.
Also Read: There is talent shortage in the e-motorcycle space in SEA: ION Mobility CEO
The introduction of electric bikes in Indonesia addresses two significant issues: the prevalence of outdated and unsafe bikes and the problem of air pollution. Currently, many Indonesian drivers rely on outdated and unsafe bikes, which not only impacts their income but also poses risks to their safety and the safety of their passengers. Safe and reliable electric bikes can decrease the harm made by fuel transport and enhance the livelihoods of drivers while ensuring the well-being of their passengers.
Moreover, the introduction of electric bikes contributes to the mitigation of air pollution and the improvement of air quality, particularly in Jakarta, where pollution is a growing concern. Increasing the adoption of electric bikes aligns with the Indonesian government’s goal of having 2.5 million electric vehicle users in the country by 2025, promoting a cleaner and healthier environment.
Are there any difficulties with helping the environment as a startup?
The first obstacle that we had to face was the need to educate society as well as the key market players and raise awareness about the advantages of electric bikes and their impact on the environment. Convincing people to abandon fuel-powered transportation in favour of ecological one may be difficult due to a lack of resources.
The second challenge happens to be the infrastructure, which is unfortunately not yet ready to obtain your technologies. For example, as of now, there are not enough charging and swap stations for electric bikes in Jakarta to ensure drivers that they would be able to charge their bikes quickly and easily.
These challenges require collaboration between the private and public sectors to overcome, and we are actively working with both to find solutions.
Also Read: Transitioning to new energy? Here’re 5 prominent solutions for your business
Is it possible to measure startups’ impact on ecology?
There are many ways to rate a company’s contribution. The first is simply by tracking the scope of services provided. IVITECH is monitoring the number of bikes given and the number of drivers who abandoned fuel-powered transport.
The second way is to track the level of public awareness on topics such as the overall environmental situation and your business in particular. It is possible with surveys and media coverage monitoring.
Is it worth it?
It is important to note that, in fact, a startup’s cooperation dedicated to state goals can help a startup grow. Support for government initiatives can cause a mirror effect and bring investments aimed at further cooperation.
Also, supporting the environmental goals strengthens the public-private partnerships, utilising the combined expertise and networks of both sectors to create more comprehensive and effective ecological initiatives and fields of growth.
—
Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic
Join our e27 Telegram group, FB community, or like the e27 Facebook page
Image credit: Unsplash
The post How startups can help solve Indonesia’s environmental crisis appeared first on e27.