Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb 18 2025 –As Indonesia’s construction boom reshapes skylines and coastal landscapes, the environmental costs of rapid development weigh heavily. Cement production alone is responsible for nearly 8% of global carbon emissions, and Southeast Asia’s growing economies are among the most concrete-hungry regions on Earth.

But some companies are trying to break the link between infrastructure growth and environmental harm. PT Wijaya Karya Beton Tbk (WIKA Beton), one of Indonesia’s largest precast concrete manufacturers, is emerging as an unlikely frontrunner in this transition—and its top executive is gaining recognition for leading the charge.

Kuntjara, President Director of WIKA Beton, was named one of Indonesia’s Best CEOs for 2024 at an awards event in Jakarta on 14 February, organized by SWA Magazine and Dunamis Organization Services. The award, based on an employee survey assessing leadership effectiveness, comes as WIKA Beton positions itself as a rare example of an emissions-intensive construction firm embracing green industry reforms.

A Greener Path for Concrete?
Under Kuntjara’s leadership, WIKA Beton became Indonesia’s first concrete producer to secure an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), an internationally recognized certification detailing the environmental footprint of its products. The company also earned the Greenship Solution Endorsement (GSE) Platinum certification from the Green Building Council Indonesia, acknowledging its reductions in carbon emissions and its shift toward sustainable production practices.

Concrete is the backbone of Indonesia’s development. With President Prabowo Subianto’s government pursuing an aggressive infrastructure agenda, including the construction of a new capital city, Nusantara, demand for precast materials is expected to surge. But with Indonesia ranked among the top 10 global greenhouse gas emitters, particularly from deforestation and coal dependency, the sector’s future will depend on its ability to decarbonize.

Bridging Growth and Responsibility
Kuntjara’s recognition reflects the growing expectation that industry leaders must balance profit with environmental accountability. The Best CEO award, according to the organizers, was determined using the Four Roles of Leadership framework developed by Stephen Covey, assessing whether executives are setting clear visions, aligning teams, empowering staff, and serving as ethical role models.

While awards alone won’t shift industries, WIKA Beton’s green credentials offer a template for other Southeast Asian companies navigating the intersection of industrial expansion and climate responsibility.

The company’s transition aligns with Indonesia’s National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) 2025-2045, which seeks to embed green growth into the country’s economic trajectory. For firms like WIKA Beton, this means rethinking supply chains, reducing emissions, and proving that low-carbon solutions can underpin—rather than obstruct—economic progress.

A Sector Under Scrutiny
The precast concrete sector remains far from clean. Across Jakarta’s industrial zones, furnaces still roar, and trucks carry tons of aggregate across congested roads. Air pollution is a constant issue. Labor conditions in parts of the supply chain—particularly in the quarrying sector—also remain a concern.

But Kuntjara’s WIKA Beton represents a small but notable shift in what is still a largely carbon-intensive and opaque sector. The company’s decision to obtain environmental certifications is part of a growing realization among Indonesian firms that global investors are demanding accountability—with ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) performance increasingly influencing capital flows into emerging markets.

The Road Ahead
Industry experts warn that the journey towards sustainable construction will require more than certifications and awards. It demands structural shifts, from reducing clinker in cement production to accelerating the use of alternative materials and renewable energy across production lines.

WIKA Beton, like many others, still faces the challenge of scaling these efforts while remaining competitive in a price-sensitive market. The recognition of Kuntjara is a symbolic win, but **lasting change will depend on sustained pressure—from regulators, investors, and civil society—to ensure that Indonesia’s infrastructure ambitions do not come at the expense of its environment.