Market Waste Composting Program ‘Nothing Wasted’ Placing Indonesia on the World Map of Green Endeavors
After 2 months of record breaking response from audiences around the world, market waste compost program ‘NOTHING WASTED’ Danamon Go Green has been officially announced as 1st Runner Up in the BBC World Challenge 2009, and is the sole finalist representing Indonesia. World Challenge is a global competition rewarding grass roots projects that give something back to their communities. It is run by BBC World News, the BBC’s international news channel, and Newsweek, the weekly global current affairs magazine, in association with Shell.
The top 3 winners in respective order are: ‘A Bright Idea’ (Safe Bottle Lamp Project) - Sri Lanka, ‘Nothing Wasted’ (Danamon Go Green) – Indonesia and ‘Fungi Town’ (BTTR Ventures) – United States.
Selected from 900 community development programs worldwide, and the only Bank Corporate Social Responsibility Program among 12 finalists, ‘NOTHING WASTED’ Danamon Go Green aims at converting traditional market waste into high quality composts to be distributed to farmers. The project also improves health and hygiene conditions of local communities and generates social economic benefits to traditional markets communities.
“Thank you for everyone who has participated in voting for Danamon Go Green, and voting online for the recognition of Indonesia’s green endeavors. The cash award of $10,000 will be used to develop our knowledge management system to expedite the learning process in strengthening the program.” said Risa Bhinekawati, Chairperson of Danamon Peduli Foundation. “The recognition as the 1st runner up in this year’s BBC World Challenge reinforces our belief in what we do. Indeed, traditional markets and agricultural activities are central to the social economic development of Indonesian communities. Everyday, traditional markets produce thousands of tons of waste, whereas 70-90% of these waste is organic, as such is very good raw materials of high quality compost,” she continued.
Awards ceremony held at The Hague, Netherlands was broadcasted on BBC World News Saturday, December 5th 2009 at 14.30 GMT or 21.30 WIB, as well as featured in December edition of Newsweek.
Together with all its partners; local governments and communities alike the ‘Nothing Wasted’ program aims to systematically enhance the livelihood of traditional markets and surrounding communities through improved health and hygiene conditions, as well as economic benefits to traditional market vendors and farmers. Replicated in 31 regencies/municipalities by the end of 2009, the program converts 400 tons of waste into 110 tons of high quality compost per month, which reduces the use of chemical fertilizers and brings environmentally friendly farming practice.
Further information can be accessed at http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/index.php and http://www.danamonpeduli.or.id
About Danamon:
PT Bank Danamon Indonesia Tbk. was established in 1956 and as of September 30, 2009 operates over 1,700 branches including its Danamon Simpan Pinjam (DSP) and Syariah units as well as Adira Finance branches. Danamon provides its customers with access to over 14,000 ATMs, including through its association with ATM Bersama and ALTO, in all 33 provinces in Indonesia and supported by approximately 40,000 employees (including subsidiaries).
Danamon is the sole issuer and acquirer of the American Express® Cards in Indonesia under an independent operator agreement which allows it to issue American Express Cards to individual and corporate clients. Danamon is also the only bank which provides services to local merchants who accept American Express Cards and for signing up new merchant partners in Indonesia.
PT Adira Dinamika Multi Finance Tbk. (Adira) is the automotive financing subsidiary of Danamon which operates an extensive branch network in more than 110 cities in Indonesia.
As per September 30, 2009, 67.70% of Danamon’s shares is owned by Asia Financial (Indonesia) Pte. Ltd., and 32.30% by the public (ownership interest below 5%).
Danamon recently received awards for Best Phone Banking Machine, Best Mobile Banking and The Most Consistent Bank in Service Excellence 2009 for the bank’s consistency in overall service quality in the Banking Service Excellence Awards 2009 by InfoBank and Marketing Research Indonesia. Danamon was also named the Best Performance Banking 2009 in ABFI Banking Award for the category of private bank with large scale assets, initiated by ABFI Institute and PERBANAS.
Danamon was appointed as the Best Bank in Indonesia 2008 by Global Finance and was awarded the Best Domestic Bank in Indonesia 2008 by The Asset Magazine. The Asset also inaugurated Danamon as the Best Company in Indonesia 2008 for Corporate Governance, based on the international corporate governance standards, including the White Paper on Corporate Governance in Asia produced by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Through Danamon Peduli, Danamon has also won the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Award 2008 in the Poverty and Hunger Eradication category. The award was organized by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Metro TV which is given to the best CSR implementation eradicating poverty and hunger in the past one year. Danamon Go-Green programs conducted by Yayasan Danamon Peduli has recently been announced as first runner up for the 2009 BBC World Challenge.