Prose The project partners, EcoForte B.V. (former Resin (Products & Technology) B.V.) of Enschede and Indonesian PT Polymindo Permata aim to establish a plastic compounding plant in Indonesia that will produce advanced functionalised speciality plastics with halogen-free flame retardant characteristics. The project is meant as a pilot with a production line for a single product. If successful and new customers can be interested, investments will be made in additional production capacity and more products will be developed.The project will set-up a new joint venture, Resindo, within the premises of the local partner, which is a family business in Tangerang (near Jakarta) that manufactures environmentally friendly all-weather synthetic wicker for garden furniture and reed and thatch for its own roofing and wall panelling products.Both partners have an established business relationship and have recently partnered in the "International Innovation" programme of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. The collaboration on the development of "EcoForte" was intense and has strengthened the existing partnership further: EcoForte is the plastic compound material that will be produced in the proposed PSI pilot. It is a flame retardant compound which does not smoke, smell, drip or burn, used for making synthetic fibre and its development has involved many years of laboratory and real-life testing. The development is in line with the current trend towards clean and safe chemistry with minimal environmental impact.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)Implementation of EcoForte’s CSR policy will be an integrated part of the training.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe overall level of responsibility of the family towards its personnel is very high, according to the Dutch applicant. Founder Junus Yang has been transferring the management of PT Polymindo Permata to his son Johan who has a good understanding of social responsibility in general and significant reference of this in the USA.Moreover, as the joint venture moves up the value chain, its customers will require it to observe international standards. EcoForte B.V. has gone through an international certification processes and shall assist PT Polymindo Permata in the same sense. Manufacturing will be according to the same GMP guidelines applied in EcoForte’s factories in the Netherlands. The compounding factory will be designed and built according to the best practices used by EcoForte in the Netherlands. The ISO 9001 certificate will be obtained.The project will be bound by EcoForte’s CSR policy, national labour law and ILO guidelines. The jobs are long-term positions that require significant personnel development and qualification on behalf of the joint venture. All positions will be covered by full social security and benefits.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeAt present, there are no local compounders in Indonesia with operations focused on high-quality plastic speciality compounds. All of these compounds are currently imported from suppliers in China, Europe, Japan and the USA. One Japanese company recently announced that it intends to start a local compounding operation in Indonesia, but for a different product portfolio and not for a compound like EcoForte.Also, the required equipment and technical expertise to build an operation and provide technical product support are new to Indonesia.•	Chain effectsRaw materials and services will be purchased from reputable established businesses. The high standards of the joint venture processes will hopefully raise those of the suppliers as well.The main benefit for local (B2B) customers will be the improved availability of fire retardant building materials that are both clean and safe. Local manufacturing should allow lower prices and shorter lead times. Consequently, this should allow local B2B customers to improve and grow their businesses, together with local employment and profits. This may be in particular the case with artisans and producers of wicker furniture, floor and wall panels. Overall, the project should increase employment and skill levels.•	Impact on the sectorThe applicant has indicated the joint venture will collaborate with local academia and research institutes. Its durably binds its staff of highly educated and skilled people to the national economy. It introduces specialised knowledge of chemical processing to the country.•	EnvironmentThe project yields environmentally friendly alternatives to polluting products that are currently flooding the booming construction market.Materials containing toxic components (such as halogens) have been blacklisted by the Stockholm Treaty for being an environmental vice at any stage of their life cycle. They are dirty to produce, toxic when disposed or burnt and difficult to recycle. Compliance with the Stockholm Treaty is one of Indonesia’s industrial objectives.The material EcoForte itself is fully recyclable. When EcoForte ends up in the environment, it eventually degrades into carbon, carbon dioxide and water. In this context, UNDP representatives who have now proposed EcoForte to the leading automobile producer in Indonesia, Astra. They are looking for alternatives to the materials currently in use for body panels.The production process itself is known to be harmless to the environment and non-polluting. In addition, all processes will be certified according to GMP guidelines. This involves regular environmental impact assessments.•	Position of womenAll employment-related decisions in the joint venture, including salary, are based upon relevant and objective criteria, as outlined in EcoForte’s CSR policy. The same applies to job evaluation in a gender-neutral fashion.•	Impact on government/society levelNot relevant on the short term.•	Impact on waterNo relevant impact. The establishment of a joint venture which will create 23 new jobs and which will operate a production line with the capacity of 6,000 to 8,000 Mtons per year for the production and commercialisation of Eco Forte, a halogen free flame retardant compound.