Sustainably produced in Indonesia, these handcrafted radios are sold across Europe.

The founder Singgih Susilo Kartono studied product design in Indonesia in the 1990’s and decided to go back to his local area which was notorious for unethical wood harvesting processes and start an enterprise that would break that mould.

Kartono supports the community by training high school graduates in the art of woodworking. They have to train for over a year before they are allowed to produce their own radios for sale. Each craftsman selects the wood personally from local stock to make sure it is sourced ethically. In 2014 the company used around 80 trees in their manufacturing workshop. To offset this they planted over 8000 with the help of local primary schools.

Instead of searching for external validation of their sustainable practice through international sustainable wood working certification that cost upwards of $5000 per year they instead developed their own independent practice and spent that money on implementation instead. This direct action has resulted in international eco design awards and attention from environmental organizations.

More recently Kartono has been branching out, making bamboo bicycles and bunk houses from local materials to try and attract tourists and creators of all types to come to his village and co design some projects.

http://www.wooden-radio.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a8wBzrLpMo

http://www.insideindonesia.org/wooden-radios-bamboo-bicycles-and-human-cocoons