Celebrating World Environment Day: From Circular Ideas to Collective Impact
Biji-biji Initiative
Driving Sustainable Development through Technology and Education
World Environment Day on June 5th is a global reminder of the urgent need to care for our planet. For us at Biji-biji, it’s also a moment to look back at where we started, what we’ve built together with our partners, and the kind of future we’re still working toward a more circular, inclusive, and regenerative one.
Over the past decade, we’ve experimented, iterated, and collaborated our way through different approaches to sustainability. From transforming waste into wearables to building capacity in communities and supporting changemakers, every step has been an effort to reimagine systems and put people at the centre of it all.
From upcycled beginnings to a fashion label
It started with a banner.
An early upcycled bag prototype made from discarded advertising banners found its way to Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM). To our surprise, they placed a bulk order and with that, Biji-biji Ethical Fashion was born.
It was a reminder that some of the biggest shifts begin with the smallest acts and a willingness to imagine value where others see waste. Our ethical fashion line became a bold statement that sustainability doesn’t have to sacrifice style. But more importantly, it was our first lesson in turning discarded materials into meaningful stories.
A space for making, and remaking: Biji-biji Klang
In the wake of the 2015 Nepal earthquake, we joined a grassroots campaign called Novels for Nepal. Our team transformed a wooden spool into a bookshelf for children affected by the earthquake. That spark of transformation led to the creation of our workshop and factory in Klang. The space grew into a playground for imagination – a place where waste could be reimagined into both art and function, and where ideas had room to grow slowly, intentionally, and collectively. Though the Klang workshop is no longer active today, the legacy of that creative space lives in our values, processes, and continued belief in collaborative making.
Powering curiosity: The Energy Playground
How do you make sustainability tangible—and fun?
That question led to the Energy playground, a traveling exhibition where participants could power gadgets using their own physical energy. Whether it was pedalling the Bicycle Juicer or running on the Hamster Wheel, people experienced energy in a new, personal way.
The Energy Playground toured malls and even appeared at the 2017 SEA Games. It was our way of saying:
Sustainability doesn’t always need a lecture. Sometimes, it just needs a hamster wheel.
Beyond Bins: Circularity that begins with community
With Beyond Bins, we took our commitment to circularity deeper into communities. Inspired by the Precious Plastics movement, we equipped local communities with small-scale recycling machines, providing tools to turn plastic waste into income-generating products like planter pots and coasters.
In places like Selayang Baru and Kampung Tengah, 110 individuals joined the programme, and 13 became trained community leaders in entrepreneurship and digital marketing. Supported by partners like PSPK Women Development Centre, Bohomys, and Impactlution, the initiative has now grown to include collaborators such as Adidas, Coway and Innisfree.
Waste doesn’t have to be a burden—it can be a bridge. When communities are empowered to lead, they transform systems from the ground up.
From makers to multipliers: Impact Accelerator Programmes
As our work evolved, we asked: How do we go beyond running programmes to building the builders?
That led us to launch impact accelerator programmes that support changemakers and organisations to scale their missions.
Yayasan Hasanah Environmental Accelerator Programme
In 2022, we partnered with Yayasan Hasanah to launch the first-of-its-kind accelerator for environmental NGOs—specifically targeting Perak-based organisations. This 1-year programme focused on strengthening technical and advocacy skills, organisational management, and digital communication.
The goal? To grow a strong, synergetic network of high-impact environmental NGOs that serve as vehicles for systemic transformation.
By 2023, the impact was tangible. Through Yayasan Hasanah’s Environmental Accelerator, Kamparefill’s refill store in Kampar saved over 1,600 plastic bottles and brought together 700 residents, to Cemerlang Tani in Selama, where over 4 tonnes of food waste were composted into new life, the programme showed that environmental restoration begins with empowered communities. Organisations like Kenyang in Ipoh also demonstrated how food rescue can be a tool for both environmental and social healing.
YSEALI: Youth Leadership at the Heart of Circularity
Since 2019, we’ve also worked with the U.S. Embassy through the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) to empower youth across the region. Through workshops, bootcamps, seed funding, and mentorship, we aim to enable young changemakers to translate their civic passion into environmental action.
Key Milestones:
This wasn’t just about skill-building—it was about shaping new regional ecosystems. When young leaders have access to tools, mentors, and networks, the ripple effects are profound and far-reaching.
Igniting a Sustainable Future: ESG Access for All
Today, we’re amplifying our commitment to a thriving planet by launching initiatives that empower action and transformation in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. We believe that restoring the health of our planet begins with restoring access to knowledge. When people understand the systems they’re part of, they’re better equipped to transform them.
In celebration of World Environment Day, we’re offering our ESG Fundamentals Course at no cost for 30 days, providing everyone with the tools to understand and engage with ESG principles. This isn’t just about understanding—it’s about building the capacity to act, connecting with a community of ESG solution providers, and sparking real-world impact.
And here’s something to get excited about: a game-changing sustainability leadership programme is in the works. This flagship endeavour will supercharge organisations with the strategies and networks needed to lead the charge in sustainability.
Watch our space for what’s coming! More details coming soon.
Looking ahead
Across different fields and focus areas, we’ve seen how collective efforts—rooted in sustainability, equity, and imagination — can shape something larger than any one organisation.
Today, we are reminded that caring for the planet also means caring about how we work together - sharing tools, stories, and spaces that empower more people to take part.
From grassroots initiatives to regional programmes, we’ve met partners who bring the same commitment to creating long-term change, each in their own way. And that’s what gives us hope.
As the challenges grow more complex, so must our connections. We’ll keep showing up, learning from each other, and building the kind of ecosystem where sustainable ideas can take root and thrive.