The most recent WWF had the theme of “Water for Shared Prosperity”, where Nestlé Indonesia also participated and received appreciation from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia for its participation in the revitalization activities of the Citarum River Basin (DAS Citarum), which is part of the Citarum Harum program.

The program is a cross-sector collaboration effort in the recovery programs for the DAS and was included in the roster of the lessons learned showcase, one of the 10th WWF agendas, covering river management in Indonesia.

At the event, Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister of the Republic of Indonesia Luhut B. Pandjaitan commended the cross-sector collaboration involving the government, academia, industry, society and the media.

“Thank you to the Citarum Harum Sector Commanders, who have worked hard to make the Citarum Harum program a success. The success of the Citarum Harum program is the result of good teamwork with various parties. It is hoped that the Citarum Harum program can continue because of its very positive impact. The Citarum Harum program is also expected to be replicated in other rivers in Indonesia,” he said.

Nani Hendiarti, deputy for environmental and forestry management coordination at the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister of the Republic of Indonesia, also expressed appreciation for the cross-sector ministries/agencies, international organizations, Citarum Harum Sector Commanders, academics, and several industry partners who contributed to the recovery of the Citarum River, including PT Nestlé Indonesia.

“I hope an exit policy for the sustainability of the Citarum Harum program post-Presidential Regulation No. 15/2018 can soon be prepared so that the good practices implemented in the Citarum River can be applied to other rivers, reducing plastic waste leakage into the ocean,” she said.

Nestlé Indonesia believes clean water and adequate sanitation are basic needs for every human being, two principles that are included in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as Nestle’s vision of Creating Shared Value. Moreover, caring for water pillars is also one of Nestle Indonesia’s focus to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Aligning with its purpose in unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to, Nestlé Indonesia is actively pursuing various initiatives to help care for water and preserve resources for future generations.

Samer Chedid, Nestlé Indonesia’s President Director, stated, “To preserve the planet for future generations, collective efforts from all parties are needed. The collaboration of Nestlé Indonesia with the Citarum Harum Sector Commanders is the beginning of a long-term commitment to actively participate in the recovery and management of the Citarum Catchment Area. The presence of Nestlé Indonesia’s Karawang Factory in West Java is a realization of our commitment to water resource sustainability.”

One result of the Citarum Harum program is the documentation of the Citarum River’s recovery process along its 297-kilometer length in a comprehensive book.

Using the occasion of the 10th WWF, the book, titled, Citarum Harum: Caring for Rivers Saving Lives, was officially launched by coordinating minister Luhut, along with the acting governor of West Java, Bey Machmudin, and was witnessed by Corporate Affairs Director Nestlé Indonesia Sufintri Rahayu.

Commenting on this initiative, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Dedi Kusnadi Thamim, daily chair of the Citarum River Basin Control and Damage Management (PPK) Task Force, stated, “On behalf of the Citarum Harum Sector Commanders, I thank the Indonesian government and PT Nestlé Indonesia for their support and appreciation of the collaborative efforts in the Citarum Harum program. The participation of the Citarum Harum Sector Commanders in the 10th WWF is a good opportunity for us to gain insights and inspire us to continue protecting and caring for the environment.”

As part of Nestlé Indonesia’s active participation in preserving the Citarum River Basin, several activities have also been conducted with the Citarum Task Force since 2019. These activities include tree planting, the construction of 10 material recovery facilities, the development of the Citarum park and product support for community education events.

Following the conclusion of the 10th WWF, Nestlé Indonesia remains steadfast in its commitment in caring for water, aiming to achieve this through responsible water management across its operations and supply chain.

“Some of the initiatives applied in the factories include the installation of wastewater treatment facilities and rainwater harvesting buildings. In addition, we also collaborate with local communities to build clean water facilities to support agricultural businesses and improve family health,” Sufintri Rahayu said.

Source: Nestle