Memlahkan Sampah Dapur, Aksi Real Implementasi Gaya Hidup Berkelanjutan

Real action sorting waste for a sustainable environment (Adelia/VOI)

JAKARTA - Concern for environmental issues can start from small things, such as sorting waste. This is what happened to Isman Ridwansyah, a culinary influencer from Kudus as well as a MasterChef Season 7 participant.

In the Inauguration of the Kudus Asik Digital Movement and Appreciation of 370 Organic Waste Management Partners organized by the Djarum Foundation (BLDF) Community Service, Isman shared his experience of traveling to support the Kudus Asik movement.

At the end of 2020, Isman was introduced to the Kudus Asik program by the Djarum Foundation. As someone struggling in the field of food & beverage (F&B), he began to relate his cooking interest to waste management.

"I like cooking. For example, orange skin can be used as candit. In fact, orange skin can also be used as perfume. From there, I began to see a lot of leftover ingredients that could still be used," he said, when met at Djarum Oasis Kretek Factory, Bacin, Kudus, Central Java on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

Initially, Isman was known for his cooking content, such as making ungkep spices that went viral on social media. However, over time, he began to insert environmental care messages in his content. With directions from Djarum, he is increasingly aware that sorting waste is a shared responsibility.

Taking other people to care about waste is not easy. Isman admitted that he had received skeptical comments from the public, such as the assumption that sorting waste could actually reduce the jobs of scavengers.

"I remember a lot of comments, 'Workers who take garbage have paid, if they sort it out, they won't work'. Even though sorting waste is a shared task," he said.

However, he did not give up. With a creative approach, he inserts elements of humor in his content to make it more interesting. For him, the most important thing is consistency and building awareness first.

"If kindness can be contagious, then I am sure that more and more people will realize the importance of sorting waste." concluded Isman.

Movements like Kudus Asik prove that change can start from individuals who care. With small steps such as sorting waste and reusing leftover materials, we can contribute to a better environment.