Sholikhah Flowers are Indonesian “florists” who, despite their profession as florists, do not work with fresh flowers. Instead, they create their own intricate and life-like flowers out of recycled plastics. This allows them to craft bouquets and standing arrangements out of plastic flowers that look as if they had been picked fresh that very morning.
To further showcase their commitment to their craft and the planet, they also create detailed tutorial videos that they share through social media. Allowing anyone who is interested in the craft to join in their fight to reduce plastic waste. They do all this while creating beautiful things that are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Responsible Consumption and Production.
Outside of their flourishing “florist” business, Sholikhah flowers has amassed an astounding following of over 12,500 subscribers on YouTube and over 72,100 followers on Instagram. This reach can be attributed to their easy to understand tutorial videos and reels, that help just about anyone to create their own detailed and life-like flowers at home. Their process also uses readily available tools such as scissors, glue and plastic waste that almost every Indonesian household have access to.
With a population of over 250 million, Indonesia is the second largest plastic polluter in the world. A 2020 report by the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) found that in 2017, Indonesia had generated 65.8 million tons of plastic waste, 1.29 million of which have ended up in seas. Plastic waste in Indonesia has become such a big problem that it warranted its own national strategy to reduce plastic waste by 2025–a comprehensive and complex strategy that was created with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This is why popular plastic waste reduction efforts such as those done by Sholikhah Flowers becomes that much more crucial.
Hence, their recycled flowers are metaphors of renewal and regeneration, symbolizing hope for a positive future free from plastic waste. However, Sholikhah Flowers also crafts their recycled plastic into fruits, vegetables and spices such as chili and prawn pastes. These carry within them a darker yet more contemporary meaning, alluding to how plastic waste that has found its way to water sources, have caused micro plastics to be found in today’s fresh produce and other agricultural products.
Furthermore, in March 2022, the world was shocked by the discovery of micro plastics in human blood, which are byproducts of the micro plastics that have found its way into agriculture. This further highlights just how dire of a problem plastic waste is. It also goes to show how crucial artworks such as Sholikhah Flowers’ pieces are, as they raise awareness of the issue and give people tangible actionable steps to reduce their plastic waste.
Sholikhah Flowers transforms plastic waste into mesmerizing flowers and vegetables that help viewers rethink their approach to plastic waste. Their embrace and commitment to share their practices inspire people to contribute to a more sustainable future. All while reminding them of the power of their own creativity and resourcefulness in addressing environmental challenges.