Former Sabahan journalist collects trash and transforms them into earrings

Using upcycled plastic material for earrings is a good and green way to reduce waste and pollution. Photos: Saila Saidie

Saila Saidie was a journalist, but these days, the Sabahan collects plastic waste for a living.

The former writer and sub-editor from Kota Kinabalu gathers plastic waste from basket weavers across Sabah, breathing new life into discarded materials by making earrings with ethnic motifs.

Saila, a Dusun from Penampang, has been making costume jewellery from home since 2016. What began as a hobby gradually evolved into a home business called Lifetime Jewellery Design (LJD) to supplement her income.

Saila wants to do her part to reduce plastic waste.“I began creating photo accessories with pictures of flowers encased in resin. My sisters loved them, and soon their friends requested personalised photo lockets and earrings.

“That was how LJD started – I made these pieces during the day and edited news articles at night,” she says during an interview in Serdang, Selangor recently.

Saila is in town for a week-long workshop organised by the Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Ministry together with the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation.

Saila’s venture merges what she loves – crafting accessories and pursuing a sustainable lifestyle.

Her interest in sustainability was sparked in 2019 when she drove past the floating village of Kampung Air in Sembulan, Kota Kinabalu. She was struck by the amount of plastic bottles floating on the water.

“This spurred a desire to address the plastic waste issue. Soon after, I joined a one-day social entrepreneurship programme organised by the Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre in Kota Kinabalu.

“There, I met several social entrepreneurs who inspired and advised me to start LJD, focusing on plastic waste. I gained valuable knowledge on how to make a profit as a social entrepreneur.

“It was this pivotal moment that led me to commit to LJD full time,” says Saila, 34, who holds a degree in sports science from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Shah Alam.

‘I believe everyone deserves to live in a clean and healthy environment,’ says Saila.

In 2020, she left the media industry to dedicate herself fully to her business and subsequently tackle plastic pollution.

“When I quit my job, my biggest fear was financial instability and whether the business would generate enough income. With a house loan to pay monthly, losing a steady income from my full-time job was a significant risk to take. I thought about it and decided that I wanted to pursue something new and fulfilling,” she adds.

“I was willing to take the leap because I believe that the potential rewards outweigh the risks,” explains the mother of a toddler girl who turns two this year.

Plastic waste, from basket weavers, finds new life as chic earrings.In 2022, she was the winner of the Sabah Shell LiveWIRE programme, which offered free workshops and funding to young entrepreneurs. She walked away with a RM10,000 grant which allowed her to buy a sheet press machine.

To launch her social enterprise, she also received about RM250,000 worth of funding from government agencies, non-governmental organisations, social enterprises and corporate organisations.

“I also collaborated with Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s (UMS) Academy of Arts and Creative Technology lecturer Dr Lilian Lee Shiau Gee who guided me on how to set the direction and focus of my business. Slowly, LJD evolved from a photo accessories business to a social enterprise that crafts tourism products from plastic waste, working with Sabah’s marginalised communities.”

From waste to accessories

Now, LJD employs six single mothers from Kampung Sinungkalangan, Tambunan, offering them fair compensation for their craftsmanship.

“My decision to work with single mothers is deeply personal. I was raised by a single mother and I understand the challenges and obstacles faced by these women. I hope my enterprise can provide single mums with employment opportunities and support, subsequently easing their financial hardship.”

The plastic waste generated by basket weavers is transformed into earrings.

Saila says each person earns RM10 for a pair of earrings made.

“While their earnings typically range from RM300 to RM500 monthly, this can vary depending on the volume of orders and the pace of production,” says the eldest of five siblings.

Kampung Sinungkalangan, she says, was chosen because it was where her mother grew up and she knows some of the underprivileged women there.

Farmer Lominah Mail, 50, is grateful for the opportunity to work with LJD. The mother of two says learning a new skill has been empowering and has opened up new opportunities.

‘As a single mother, earning a living is essential for survival,’ says Lominah.“As a single mother, earning a living is essential for survival. Without a partner to rely on, we must support ourselves and our children independently. Having a steady stream of income not only ensures our own wellbeing but also sets an example for our children, teaching them the value of hard work and resilience.”

Lominah saves her extra income for her children’s education.

“The financial stability provided by LJD is a blessing, and I want to invest in my children’s future. I hope that they will get a good education and pursue their dreams without financial constraints,” Lominah says.

Through a computer-aided software, Saila designs all the costume jewellery pieces herself.

“LJD wants to celebrate and promote the rich culture and heritage of Sabah. Additionally, we incorporate plant shapes into our designs to raise awareness about the importance of environmental conservation.

“Each piece of our recycled plastic accessory is meticulously crafted with attention to details and a focus on durability. We use gold-plated stainless steel components to ensure longevity and quality craftsmanship,” says Saila.

Towards sustainability

Plastics are synonymous with environmental problems, compounded by common misconceptions regarding their recyclability.

Recent research has shown that a litre of bottled water contains about a quarter million invisible microplastic particles.

By reusing plastic waste from weavers, Saila (left) is actively reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills.“People unknowingly ingest these microplastics through what we eat, drink and breathe, which can potentially increase our vulnerability to heart disease, cancer and other illnesses.

“Fortunately, many plastic recycling technologies exist, enabling plastic waste to be transformed into valuable resources instead of being discarded as trash,” Saila says.

She adds that in many rural villages in Sabah, burning of plastic waste is common. This practice can cause severe irritation to the eyes, nose and lungs. In some cases, the effects can be long-term and irreversible.

“I am also concerned about the Kayu Madang landfill in Telipok. In March, there was a huge fire at the landfill. It caused severe air pollution and each fire took at least a week to be extinguished.”

These factors led to her decision to focus on leftover plastic waste from basket weavers “because most of this waste goes into dumpsites”.

“Some types of plastic waste can take up to 500 years to decompose, creating long-term environmental hazards. My aim is to use plastic waste to create things that people cherish.”

This Sinumandak ethnic design pays tribute to Sabah’s Murut community.Currently, LJD’s recycled plastic materials come from the Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (Scenic), an initiative under the state’s Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.

Located in Telipok, 15km from Kota Kinabalu, the innovative hub recycles discarded plastic using a simple upcycling process.

There, Saila works with several undergraduate students from UMS’ Academy of Arts and Creative Technology.

Each week, Saila receives 10kg of cleaned plastic waste from basket weavers, primarily from around Kota Kinabalu, and from towns like Papar, Kudat and Tambunan.

“We utilise sheet pressing techniques. Once the earrings are moulded into shape, we meticulously refine the surface to ensure a smooth finish.

“This involves using grinders, craft knives and scalpels to achieve the desired texture and appearance.

“Additionally, we employ drilling techniques to create holes for attaching gold-plated stainless-steel studs, adding a touch of elegance to the finished product,” she says.

Each pair of earrings, which costs RM57, uses between 50g and 350g of recycled plastic.

Saila uses a computer-aided software to design intricate earrings inspired by Sabah’s rich cultural heritage.Saila acknowledges that running this business comes with its own set of challenges.

One significant hurdle is the lower buying power in Sabah, one of Malaysia’s poorest states.

“Many Sabahans prioritise essential food items like rice and sugar over discretionary ones such as accessories or tourism products.

“While our products enjoy brisk sales in Peninsular Malaysia, selling them in Sabah is more challenging.

“To tackle this, we target tourists, government agencies, hotels and large corporations which often place bulk orders,” says Saila, who also plans to launch a line of flowers and handbags made from recycled plastic.

She feels much effort needs be taken to educate Malaysians about plastic waste and the environment.

Raising awareness through a single talk is insufficient; changing public mindset requires consistent effort and follow-up.

“I once led a talk on recycling and upcycling plastic waste, demonstrating how bottle caps could be transformed with small melter machines.

“Despite this, at lunch, I saw students discarding water bottles with the caps on.

“This shows the ongoing need for repeated talks and initiatives among government agencies, non-governmental organisations and social enterprises.

“We need to educate and re-educate the public.

“Everyone deserves to live in a clean and healthy environment, and for that, everyone needs to be on the same page and do what they can to achieve it,” she adds.