Indonesian startups work to clear the air as pollution grips capital city

Imagine this: You’re at an outdoor work event in the scorching heat, when you suddenly start feeling dizzy and feverish, and your nose bleeds. Two weeks later, you develop a persistent cough and struggle to breathe.

That’s precisely what happened to a 31-year-old Indonesian named Nina Rosalyne in September, triggered by the air pollution in Jakarta. Her situation was worsened by a pre-existing respiratory infection.

However, it wasn’t until her siblings had similar symptoms and she experienced severe chest pain that she was rushed to the hospital. There, the diagnosis was alarming – an infection caused her lungs to be covered in mucus.

Rosalyne is just one of the many victims of severe air pollution, which has left residents of the capital city in dire straits.

Jakarta’s air pollution has led to 8,100 deaths this year and incurred about US$2.1 billion in losses, according to a report from air quality tech firm IQAir.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

The Health Ministry also disclosed that as of August, cases of respiratory diseases linked to pollution had surged to 200,000 from 50,000 before Covid-19.

However, taking a cue from the Covid-19 era, there’s a silver lining amid a health crisis: The air pollution in Jakarta could propel the long-term growth of startups directly addressing these health concerns, such as air monitoring devices and carbon dioxide (CO2) converters, as well as startups in related fields, including waste management and ride-sharing.

Decades-long impact

Rosalyne and several other young workers affected by the air pollution intend to use air monitoring devices once they regain their health and resume their daily commutes.

Nafas provides one such device. Within just two weeks in August, the firm’s app saw a staggering 400% increase in users, according to its co-founder and chief growth officer, Piotr Jakubowski.

Recently, Nafas released a whitepaper with healthtech firm Halodoc, exploring the connection between air pollution and respiratory health.

Their research found that respiratory complaints in the country increased by 34% along with the increase of fine particles in June.

Funded by corporate partners, Nafas offers outdoor air monitors in 15 cities across the archipelago. These partners usually participate in this as part of their ESG or corporate initiatives. For indoor uses, Nafas has created the Clean Air Zones system, which combines monitoring and filtration technology, catering to businesses, schools, and homes.

See also: ‘Clean air as a service’ by Indonesian firm takes on pollution

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