By: Natalia Trita Agnika

The #BeliYangBaik program, a collaboration between WWF-Indonesia, Unilever, and Hypermart that has been echoed during the period of April 21 to May 17, 2016, has succeeded in increasing public awareness of nature conservation. This was conveyed by Joy Tarigan, Customer Development Hypermarket and Road to Market Unilever Indonesia in a tree planting ceremony at Telaga Saat (Upper Ciliwung Sub Watershed), Cisarua, West Java last Thursday (08/09).

"I feel quite proud that we can end the campaign program and do the inauguration symbolizing the commitment to plant 10,000 trees. The #BeliYangBaik program is part of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan that goes into the consumer arena," Joy explained in his speech. Furthermore, Joy also revealed that the #BeliYangBaik program for a sustainable environment has won "Indonesia's Best Corporate Social Initiatives 2016" MIX Magazine and has successfully reached more than 10,000 people to interact at the #brightFuture booth in Hypermart stores. 7,000 of them have shared their stories on how to create a better environment.

During the campaign period, every purchase of Lipton, Bango, Lifebuoy, Pepsodent, Domestos, Dove, Molto, Rinso, and Pure It products at Hypermart, consumers automatically donate Rp 1,000 to the program. "So right now, at the same time, there are inaugurations (tree planting) also in Yogyakarta and Tulungagung," Joy explained.

Meanwhile, Director of Public Relations & Communication MPPA Retail, Danny Kojongian welcomed the results of the #BeliYangBaik campaign. "Today is a new history where we (Unilever, Hypermart, and WWF-Indonesia) as part of all Indonesian consumers, we start to provide something good for Indonesian consumers," he said. Danny also revealed that the participation of consumers has a very large share. "Consumers have become more critical about the origin of products. We don't just want to sell, but also be responsible to society. With 10,000 trees is a very serious thing that has a positive impact for the future for our next generation. We are proud that two very famous names in the world (Unilever and WWF) have invited Hypermart to do this noble thing," he continued.

This is the second collaboration between WWF-Indonesia and PT Unilever Indonesia in the NEWtrees program. Currently, through the #BeliYangBaik campaign, Unilever is again contributing to saving water catchments in the protected forest of the Upper Ciliwung Sub Watershed by planting 10 hectares, in the upper Brantas of Tulungagung Regency covering an area of 10 hectares, and a mangrove area at the mouth of Kali Opak Yogyakarta covering an area of 5 hectares. The total number of trees planted was 15,500 trees.

Devy Suradji, Marketing Director of WWF-Indonesia explained that the NEWtrees program is not just a tree planting program, but provides more impact. "There will be jackfruit, avocado, damar, rasamala, and puspa trees. The puspa tree is one of the endemic trees from the West Java forest. While the resin tree can be taken for its sap. Avocado and jackfruit can also provide direct results for the surrounding community," Devy explained. Thus, planting trees through the NEWtrees program not only provides ecological benefits for the wider community but also provides economic benefits for the surrounding community.

At the ceremonial event, a number of representatives from Unilever, Hypermart, and WWF-Indonesia also directly planted various tree seedlings that had been prepared in the area around Telaga Saat, (Upper Ciliwung Sub Watershed), Cisarua, West Java. The trees will be cared for and monitored by the community in partnership with WWF-Indonesia. The public can monitor the growth of the trees through Geotags (labeling trees with latitude and longitude/exact location coordinates).