Honest Made

Community recycling and manufacturing in Kuta, Lombok

Honest Made is a community-driven recycling and manufacturing organisation based in Kuta, South Lombok. Founded to address the lack of effective plastic waste management infrastructure in Lombok, the organisation collects, sorts and processes plastic waste locally before transforming it into new materials and products. Honest Made operates Lombok’s first recycling and manufacturing centre and works with local collectors, businesses, schools and communities to improve access to plastic recovery. Its approach combines waste collection, recycling, manufacturing and community programmes, creating a local system designed to keep plastic out of the environment while supporting livelihoods.

Plastic recycling and manufacturing

Honest Made‘s operation covers multiple stages of the recycling process. Plastic is collected through community collection services and drop-off points before being sorted according to material type and colour. The materials are then processed and transformed into recycled products.

The organisation’s official information describes its facility as Lombok’s first community recycling facility, with the goal of turning locally recovered plastic into traceable products. The system is designed to keep materials within the local economy while creating work opportunities for people involved in collection, sorting and manufacturing.

Honest Made also produces recycled plastic products for practical everyday use. Its current product range includes recycled plastic panels and furniture, while the organisation continues to develop applications for recovered materials.

Honest collection program

The Honest Collection Program provides households and businesses with a way to separate and recover plastic waste. Participants can request recycling bins and collection services, helping prevent plastic from being disposed of through informal methods or reaching waterways and coastal areas.

For communities that prefer to bring their own materials, Honest Made also operates designated plastic drop-off hubs. Its current website identifies drop-off locations at Cura and Tiga in Kuta Lombok.

Honest Made also offers sponsored recycling bins for schools, villages and coastal areas. The programme is intended to expand access to collection services in places where formal recycling infrastructure remains limited.

Community and environmental programs

Honest Made‘s work extends beyond processing plastic. The organisation works with local collectors and communities to create a more structured waste recovery system, with collected materials weighed, recorded and fairly paid for according to its current programme information.

Beach cleanups are another part of its community activity. Honest Made currently organises community beach cleanups in Kuta every Wednesday, bringing volunteers together to remove waste from the coastline.

The organisation also provides volunteer and internship opportunities covering areas such as factory work, community cleanups, engineering, marketing, design and education.

Education and recycled furniture

Honest Made also uses recycled plastic in community-focused projects. The organisation works with Classroom of Hope, which builds earthquake-resistant schools in North Lombok. Together, they have piloted classrooms furnished with recycled plastic desks and chairs.

Its education work also includes partnerships with local schools. Honest Made reports working with Yanmu School in Praya, where students visited the factory, learned about plastic and recycling, and participated in a student-led waste collection programme.

These initiatives connect recycling infrastructure with education and practical community benefits, demonstrating how recovered materials can be used within local projects.

Building a circular system in Lombok

Honest Made was founded in 2024 by Tom Jackson and Lachie Armstrong. Jackson brought experience from Indonesia’s waste sector, while Armstrong’s background as a carpenter contributed a practical, manufacturing-focused approach to developing solutions locally.

The organisation officially launched its recycling facility in April 2025, introducing plastic collection services for homes and businesses across Kuta.

Today, Honest Made’s model connects collection, recycling, manufacturing and community programmes within Lombok. Rather than treating plastic solely as waste, the organisation aims to create a system where recovered materials can become useful products while supporting local employment and environmental initiatives.

Location and getting involved

Honest Made is located on Jl. Pariwisata in Kuta, Pujut, Central Lombok Regency. The organisation welcomes collaboration from local residents, visitors and businesses through its collection programme, sponsored bins, donations, volunteer opportunities and internships.

Visitors and businesses interested in supporting plastic recovery in Lombok can contact Honest Made directly or explore its current collection and community programmes through the organisation’s website.