BLITAR – A young craftsman in Blitar has transformed broken glass waste into unique Penataran Temple miniature keychains, creating a local souvenir business inspired by history and creativity.
A. Redam Sunalis, a resident of Jatinom Village in Kanigoro District, began the idea after visiting the famous Penataran Temple complex in Blitar Regency. During the trip, he explored historical sites and visited small business stalls around the tourist area.
While walking through the market, Sunalis noticed wooden keychains shaped like temple miniatures. The products inspired him to create similar souvenirs using different materials.
“I saw temple-shaped keychains made from wood. Then I thought about creating temple miniatures from another material,” Sunalis said.
After returning home, the 41-year-old discovered piles of broken glass inside his house. Instead of throwing the waste away, he decided to recycle the shards into handmade crafts.
Sunalis first crushed the glass fragments into fine particles using a traditional mortar tool. The process created material similar to glass sand.
He then designed temple molds manually using aquarium silicone and small cement carvings.
“At first, I carved the temple shape little by little using cement, then I created the mold myself,” he explained.
However, the first attempts did not produce satisfying results. The products looked less attractive and lacked aesthetic value.
A friend later suggested mixing the crushed glass with resin to create a shinier and more durable appearance.
“After mixing the glass with resin, the results looked much better and more sparkling. The material also became easier to shape,” he said.
The improvement helped Sunalis develop more attractive souvenirs. Today, he sells each miniature temple keychain for around Rp 20,000.
The products measure approximately 4 by 5 centimeters and feature detailed designs inspired by Penataran Temple, one of Blitar’s best-known historical landmarks.
For Sunalis, the business offers more than financial income. He hopes the crafts can also introduce Blitar’s historical heritage to wider audiences.
He believes local souvenirs can strengthen tourism identity while helping people learn more about the region’s cultural history.
“This can become another special souvenir from Blitar while also introducing historical places in the region,” he said.
His small creative business also reflects a growing trend among Indonesian young entrepreneurs who transform recycled materials into valuable handmade products.
By combining environmental awareness, local culture, and tourism, Sunalis has successfully turned discarded glass into products with economic and cultural value.