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I am Anne, a designer, environmental sciences student and part-time outdoor explorer fueled by curiosity and optimism. I consider design as a tool to understand current socio-ecological challenges and to effect change by envisioning alternatives. My co-development of the Hepi Circle grew out of my current master thesis research which investigates opportunities to reduce plastic packaging in Indonesia. I have also been a dedicated co-founder of the Young Explorers Camp in Germany’s Black Forest National Park since 2014. The camp encourages young adults to explore the beauty and fragility of nature and equips them to become ambassadors for our environment.
Anne Poggenpohl - German, Europe
2018 Winner | | German
In Indonesia, most detergent is sold in small-size individual packaging, known as 'sachets'. Sachets cannot be recycled and are thus bound to leak into the environment. An estimated 5.5 million sachets of detergent are wasted daily. Hepi Circle is Indonesia’s first refill delivery network that offers detergent in reusable bottles. Customers buy a bottle of detergent at their local store, pay a deposit and with their next purchase, customers return their clean and empty bottles. The reuse habit is rewarded with a ‘hepi point’, that can go towards food or reusable products. The refill and distribution to local stores is powered by women on bikes. I co-developed the Hepi Circle with Kumala, a social entrepreneur in Surabaya. The pilot project has demonstrated financial feasibility and long-term potential impact. My vision is to reduce single-use sachets and enable to make reuse a habit again.
Disclaimer:
NOTE: This content was shared online for the 2019 cycle of the Young Champions of the Earth programme and has not been updated. This listing does not constitute any endorsement by nor status with the UN Environment Programme.
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Young Champions of the Earth is a forward-looking prize designed to breathe life into the ambitions of brilliant young environmentalists.