Cargill Honored with ISDA Gold Award for Advancing Indonesia’s National Waste Management Agenda through Community-Based Compost Initiatives

Gresik, Indonesia – 20 February 2026: As Indonesia commemorates National Waste Awareness Day, Cargill has received a Gold Award at the Indonesia Sustainable Development Goals Awards (ISDA), recognizing its efforts in supporting local waste reduction efforts aligned with Indonesia’s national waste management goals. This recognition highlights the success of Cargill’s 5R Compost House Program in Gresik, an initiative launched in 2022 that applies the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Replant, and Refuse (5R) approach to help transform organic community waste into compost for local use. Through this community-based model, Cargill continues to work with local partners to strengthen waste sorting and composting practices in Gresik.

The 5R Compost House Program serves as a scalable solution to help manage the country’s growing waste challenges while empowering local communities. Since its inception in 2022, Cargill has processed more than 325,000 kg of organic waste derived from rice husk charcoal, cocoa bean shell, grass, and other wet organic waste. This material waste was converted into compost for Cargill’s demo plots and shared with surrounding communities. In addition, the program has donated more than 19,000 kg of inorganic waste consisting of paper, plastic, and metal to Bank Sampah BSI Guyub Rukun Manyar Sidorukun, BSI Samusi Manyarsidomukti, dan BSI Berseri Manyarejo Sidorukun, a community-managed waste bank, for reuse and recycling. To enable the usability and quality of its outputs, the compost produced through the 5R Compost House undergoes testing in collaboration conducted by Institut Teknologi Sepuluh November. The demonstration plot serves as a medium for applying compost and promoting hands-on learning for community members.

These efforts have earned Cargill significant recognition at both local and national levels. In November 2025, the Regent of Gresik honored the company as “The Most Committed Corporate to Economic and Community Empowerment, Infrastructure and Environment, Health, Sports, Art and Culture, Education and Religious Affairs.” Building on regional success, the ISDA Gold Award acknowledges the 5R Compost House program as a national best practice for reducing waste sent to landfills. Organized by the Corporate Forum for CSR Development in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning and the National Standardization Agency, the award recognizes sustainability initiatives that support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Cargill’s waste management initiatives in Gresik demonstrate the immense value of cross-sector collaboration,” stated Mukhammad Muryono, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D, Deputy Head of Center of Studies in Industrial Development and Public Policy Title of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember.  “Through technical collaboration and knowledge exchange, we hope similar initiatives can continue to support Indonesia’s long-term sustainability and responsible natural resource management efforts.”

Beyond its operations in Gresik, Cargill continues to advance waste reduction and recycling activities at multiple locations in Indonesia, working with local partners to strengthen practical waste handling and community awareness. More broadly, Cargill focuses on practical, on-the-ground actions across its operations and supply chains – working with farmers, customers and partners – to help build more resilient, sustainable food systems in the communities where we live and work.

Stephanie Sajuti, Cargill Indonesia representative added, “Through continuous engagement with academic institutions, government, and local communities, Cargill continues to enhance the effectiveness of its waste management practices while supporting broader national sustainability objectives. Our initiatives are designed to support national priorities through practical collaboration, driving meaningful outcomes for the communities where we operate.”