How does sustainability translate from the drawing board to the manufacturing floor and into our cityscapes? To find out, the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) team traded office laptops for factory hard hats on a technical learning trip to Jakarta, Indonesia from 15-17 September 2025.
Supported by SGBC Members and colleagues at the Green Building Council Indonesia, the SGBC Secretariat immersed itself in the manufacturing processes of essential building products and visited a landmark green development. This hands-on experience is crucial for the team to effectively support the built environment sector through advocacy, certification, and engagement.
Day 1: Sustainable Steel Manufacturing
The journey began with an insightful and eye-opening visit to PT. TATA METAL LESTARI and PT. Tatalogam Lestari in Cikrang. The team saw firsthand how certified steel products are engineered for longevity to meet rigorous green requirements, including the Indonesian National Standards.
This commitment is supported by comprehensive sustainability benchmarks such as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), CDP disclosures, and SBTi commitments. A highlight was witnessing the deployment of advanced Japanese Non-Oxidizing Furnace technology, which enables rapid heating to improve product quality while significantly lowering the carbon footprint.
Day 2: Innovations in Precast Solutions
On the second day, the team visited the facilities of PT Wijaya Karya Beton Tbk (WIKA Beton), Indonesia’s largest precast concrete producer. As one of the most essential yet carbon-intensive building materials, understanding how sustainability is integrated into concrete manufacturing is paramount.
The team gained a deep understanding of WIKA Beton’s sustainability commitment, founded on the triple bottom line principle of People, Planet, and Profit. Key initiatives include:
- Using environmentally friendly materials like Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBFS) and incorporating FABA material (a non-hazardous waste from power plants) into concrete mixtures.
- Ambitious energy management programs, including the installation of rooftop solar panels targeting 9.3 GWh of renewable energy generation and a 43% reduction in emissions.
- Complementing these efforts with the use of electric vehicles and biodiesel in their operations.
A tour of the plant’s yard showcased a range of innovative green concrete products, such as infiltration wells, porous concrete, geopolymer concrete, and PC spun piles.
Day 3: The Finished Product – A Model Green Building
To conclude the trip, the team visited the exemplary Pacific Century Place in the heart of Jakarta’s bustling business district. This architectural landmark is a model of environmental stewardship, having earned the prestigious triple crown of green building certifications: USGBC LEED Platinum, GBCI Greenship Platinum, and BCA Green Mark Gold.
Engineered for peak operational efficiency and minimal environmental impact, the development is also designed to foster a healthy and productive environment for its occupants. The team gained valuable insights into the building’s holistic emphasis on environmental quality across all phases – from design and construction to operation – exemplified by initiatives such as the building-wide integration of energy-saving technologies and innovative systems for waste management and water treatment.
An Insightful, Productive Experience
This learning trip provided the SGBC Secretariat with invaluable, on-the-ground perspectives that are essential for driving the green building agenda forward.
Once again, we extend our deepest gratitude to all SGBC Members and the Green Building Council Indonesia for their invaluable support in making this learning trip tremendously productive.
