Transforming Bali’s River Waste into Design Objects

Designer and material researcher Sara Howard, together with Kevala Ceramics, has launched two projects that turn Bali’s river waste into sustainable design objects. With reclaimed glass collected by environmental group Sungai Watch, the Sungai Carafe and the Vartula collection show how circular design can give waste a second life as durable, elegant ceramics for homes, interiors, and hospitality.

Glass Waste in Bali

Glass can be recycled endlessly without losing quality, yet in Bali this rarely happens. Transport to Java, where recycling facilities exist, is expensive and often not viable. As a result, much of the glass ends up as waste. Sungai Watch reports that glass makes up almost five percent of all river waste—around 26,300 kilograms every year.

This waste problem inspired Howard. Instead of letting the material pile up, she explored how to reuse it locally in ceramic production. Together with Kevala Ceramics, she created a new material system that keeps glass in circulation and reduces the need for imported minerals.

Sungai Carafe: From River to Table

The Sungai Carafe is the result of collaboration between Sungai Watch, Howard, and Kevala’s artisans. They turn discarded glass into a ceramic material, which is then shaped by hand into a water vessel.

The carafe reduces dependence on mined resources and makes material sourcing transparent. What once polluted Bali’s rivers now becomes a product for daily use in homes and hospitality.

Vartula: Circular Hospitality Tableware

The Vartula collection extends this philosophy into a 15-piece series of tableware. Its glazes are made from reclaimed glass, while the clay body comes from Kevala’s own wastewater system. Both components use materials at the end of their lifecycle.

Seventeen Balinese artisans produce the collection. Each piece is designed to meet the demands of hospitality while remaining elegant enough for conscious homes. The result is functional tableware that combines durability with environmental responsibility.

Local Partnerships and Circular Impact

These projects underline the role of local partnerships in sustainable design. By working with Sungai Watch, Kevala builds transparent supply chains and avoids the ecological costs of extraction and import.

For architects, interior and product designers, the Sungai Carafe and Vartula show how circular thinking can reshape material use. They prove that waste can become a valuable resource, offering a model for design disciplines aiming to reduce impact and embrace circularity at scale.

Source: Kevala Ceramics / Sara Howard