Synergizing Green Business, Education, and Economy for Sustainable Development: A Case Study of the Ciro Waste Project in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan in Indonesia

Abstract

Sustainable development requires a strong integration of green business, education, and economy to simultaneously address environmental and social challenges. These three elements are interrelated in creating a balance between economic growth, environmental awareness, and human capacity building. This study aims to analyze how the synergy among green business, education, and economy supports sustainable development through a case study of the Ciro Waste Project in Balikpapan, Indonesia. Primary data were collected through in-depth interviews and field observations, complemented by secondary data from project documents and related publications. This research employes a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to identify patterns and relationships among the variables and to explore their contributions to sustainable development. The findings indicate that the Ciro Waste Project effectively integrates waste management activities into commercially valuable products, improves environmental literacy and education in local schools, and contributes to sustainable community-based economic growth. However, several challenges such as limited infrastructure, insufficient policy support, and funding constraints remain the obstacles to broader implementation. These findings highlight the importance of cross-sector collaboration in strengthening green business models that are rooted in education and local economic empowerment