Septien Dwi Savandha

The Role of the Circular Economy in Improving the Sustainability of the Creative Industry in Indonesia

Introduction

The role of the circular economy in improving the sustainability of the creative industry in indonesia. Circular economy for sustainable Indonesian creative industry. Research reveals challenges & solutions for fashion, crafts, and culinary sectors.

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the role of the circular economy in improving the sustainability of the creative industry in Indonesia. The background of the research departs from global problems related to high material consumption and waste, as well as the significant contribution of the creative sector to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Although the concept of the circular economy is increasingly recognized internationally, its implementation in Indonesia's creative industry is still limited and partial. This study uses a qualitative approach with an exploratory case study design. The subjects of the study were 15 business actors in the fashion, crafts, and culinary subsectors in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Surabaya. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, licensed employee questionnaires, participatory observations, and documentation studies, and were thematically analyzed. The results of the study show that the implementation of the circular economy in the creative sector is more focused on the use of residual materials, the use of recycled materials, and the replacement of environmentally friendly packaging. The main obstacles include cost limitations, lack of market incentives, and low consumer literacy. The findings also confirm variations across subsectors: fashion excels in the use of leftover fabrics, crafts in recycled materials, and culinary in plastic reduction. The implications of this study emphasize the importance of integrating circular principles into business strategies, employee education, and government policy support. This is expected to accelerate the transition to a more competitive, sustainable, and adaptive creative industry to global demands.

Review

The study titled "The Role of the Circular Economy in Improving the Sustainability of the Creative Industry in Indonesia" addresses a timely and critically important topic. By examining the application of circular economy principles within Indonesia's burgeoning creative sector, the research effectively bridges a significant gap between global sustainability imperatives and local economic realities. The abstract clearly articulates the study's objective: to analyze the role of the circular economy in enhancing the sustainability of this vital industry, acknowledging both its substantial contribution to GDP and the inherent challenges posed by high material consumption and waste generation. The qualitative, exploratory case study approach, targeting key subsectors across major Indonesian cities, appears well-suited to gain an in-depth understanding of this complex phenomenon. The methodological rigor, incorporating in-depth interviews, questionnaires, participatory observations, and documentation studies from 15 diverse business actors, is a notable strength, promising rich, nuanced data. The findings offer valuable insights into the current state of circular economy implementation within the creative industry, highlighting specific areas of focus such as the utilization of residual and recycled materials, alongside the adoption of eco-friendly packaging. Crucially, the research identifies significant barriers to broader adoption, including cost constraints, limited market incentives, and low consumer literacy, which are common yet critical challenges in developing contexts. The confirmation of subsectoral variations – with fashion excelling in leftover fabrics, crafts in recycled materials, and culinary in plastic reduction – adds a layer of granularity and practical relevance to the results, allowing for more targeted interventions. The implications drawn from this study are pertinent and forward-looking, emphasizing the need for strategic integration of circular principles into business models, enhanced employee education, and robust government policy support. These recommendations provide a clear roadmap for stakeholders aiming to foster a more competitive, sustainable, and adaptive creative industry in Indonesia, capable of responding to evolving global demands. While the exploratory nature of the study provides excellent foundational insights, future research could build upon these findings by investigating the economic viability of specific circular practices in greater detail or exploring quantitative impacts across a broader sample to enhance generalizability. Nonetheless, this research offers a substantial contribution to the discourse on sustainable development in creative industries, particularly within emerging economies.

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