Plastic Prices Soar, Puan Asks Government to Find Solutions for Alternative Packaging Use

JAKARTA - House of Representatives (DPR) Chairwoman Puan Maharani asked the government to find solutions to the soaring plastic prices. According to him, the use of packaging from natural materials can be an alternative solution because in addition to the cheaper price, the decomposition of organic waste after use is also more environmentally friendly.

"Although plastic is needed in daily life because of its practicality, we know together that its ecological burden is very high. So the increase in plastic prices can be a momentum for us to switch to a green economy," said Puan Maharani, Wednesday, April 15.

As is known, the skyrocketing price of plastic in Indonesia has reached 30 to 80 percent by April 2026. The increase in plastic prices is triggered by global geopolitical conflicts that disrupt the supply chain where the industry's dependence on imported raw materials reaches 60 percent.

Puan also highlighted the increase in plastic prices which most heavily affected MSMEs, especially in the food and beverage sector which has always relied on disposable packaging.

"The soaring plastic prices that have multiplied many times and the supply has become difficult to obtain have caused small business actors who have been working with limited profits to have more difficulty in terms of economy," he said.

Puan encourages that the use of product packaging can be returned to the local wisdom model. "In our predecessors, the use of packaging from natural materials such as leaves is the main alternative. Food or food traders can return to using packaging

"It's such an environmentally friendly way," he said.

Puan also encouraged related ministries such as the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Trade, and Ministry of Creative Economy to collaborate to find alternative packaging solutions to replace plastic for business actors.

"The government needs to provide support and facilitate the community's needs for alternative packaging, especially for business actors and consumers. We in the DPR will participate in oversight in accordance with the duties and powers of the council," he concluded.