Every morning in Pasar Kosambi’s bustling traditional market, the rhythm of trade begins before dawn. Crates of fresh vegetables arrive, the scent of spices fills the air, and conversations competes between the bargains and the catchy promotional jargon each vendor shouts.

But underneath this vibrant daily life lies a less visible issue: waste. Not just leftovers or spoiled food — but behavioral waste. Systemic inefficiencies. Opportunities lost in plain sight.

In June 2025, we at Gizalab were honored to be recognized at the Melbourne–Bandung Food Waste Challenge, an international initiative by Rocket Seeder in collaboration with the cities of Melbourne and Bandung. Our solution wasn’t a fancy app or cutting-edge hardware. It was something more. We decided to listen.