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This Balinese Zero-Waste Restaurant Maukami uses Leaves, Bamboo, and Coconuts instead of plastic

Sustainable and authentic, Maukami is a farm-to-fork restaurant in Bali that uses leaves, bamboo and coconuts in stead of plastic.

The use of plastic in Bali has become a major problem, with plastic pollution affecting not only the environment but also the economy and tourism. According to the National Geographic, Indonesia is the second-largest ocean polluter in the world, with Bali being the epicenter of this problem.

Minimizing Plastic

Maukami has taken huge steps to reduce the use of plastic in their restaurant. Ida Ayu Sukariani, an employee at Maukami, states:

“The pollution here is really bad, mainly plastics. So we want to show how much is possible with natural materials instead of plastic.”

Instead, Maukami uses natural materials such as bamboo, banana leaf, Lumasih leaf, and Nyangku leaf for packaging.

Sustainable Living

Maukami is not only reducing plastic use, but they are also helping Indonesians make a sustainable living from the richness of their land. They offer dine-in options, as well as delivery and take-away options using bamboo containers. Customers who return the bamboo containers to the restaurant receive a cashback of 5000 Rupiah for each bamboo container. They also plant and harvest their kitchen garden and offer gardens for the community and local farmers.

Supporting local crafters

Promoting Sustainable Living Maukami also mentors local crafters and villagers to help them raise the standard of their production. They are promoting sustainable living and reducing the risk of villagers giving up their land for jobs in the city. The restaurant’s mission is to promote sustainable living and preserve the authentic culture of Bali.

Maukami is a great example of how restaurants can reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainable living. By using natural materials for packaging, promoting sustainable living, and mentoring local crafters and villagers, Maukami is making a positive impact on Bali’s environment and economy. As Ida Ayu Sukariani states:

“Maybe people are starting to forget about the traditional ways of Bali, not only tourists but also the Balinese people themselves. Our food here is authentic Balinese food, similar to what our grandparents used to eat.”

An amazing experience

When I (Michiel, founder of BrightVibes) was in Bali, I had the pleasure of visiting Maukami. The team at Maukami was incredibly welcoming, and the connection with local Balinese people made for an amazing experience. The kindness of the staff and the delicious, natural food were highlights of the visit. I can only highly recommend anyone traveling to Bali to take the time to visit Maukami.

And when you go to Bali, make sure to also sign up for a volunteer river cleanup with our friends of Sungai Watch. You can learn all about the important work they do on Bali in this BrightVibes article.

You can learn more about the team and philosophy behind Maukami here Maukami works to empower Indonesians to stand on their own two feet by working with villagers to facilitate sustainable living in their own villages. They partner with farmers, crafters, and housewives to provide support, resources, and access to networks and financing, believing that every family should have the opportunity to thrive in their own villages, working on their own land, and being financially independent. https://www.maukami.com/about .

Make an Impact

Support Sungai Watch, help cleanup Bali's plastic pollution

You can support Sungai Watch by sponsoring a barrier or clean up, but you can also just donate. Your support will allow Sungai Watch to fund their cleanup operations around Indonesia by organizing more river, mangrove and illegal landfill cleanups. The funds will entirely go towards the project.

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