{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1681688,
        "msgid": "trade-minister-reveals-reducing-plastic-use-can-lower-staple-goods-prices-1776336719",
        "date": "2026-04-16 16:58:17",
        "title": "Trade Minister Reveals Reducing Plastic Use Can Lower Staple Goods Prices",
        "author": "Ahmad Fikri Noor",
        "source": "REPUBLIKA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Trade",
        "summary": "Indonesia's Trade Minister Budi Santoso has urged the public to cut back on single-use plastics to ease the burden on traders and stabilise staple goods prices amid global supply chain disruptions for plastic raw materials like naphtha. He highlighted that simple actions, such as bringing personal shopping bags to markets, could reduce plastic waste and operational costs for vendors, ultimately benefiting consumers. Despite international pressures, domestic prices remain stable, with the government coordinating to secure alternative supplies.",
        "content": "<p>Trade Minister Budi Santoso has called on the public to begin\nreducing the use of single-use plastics as a simple step to assist\ntraders while maintaining the stability of staple goods prices amid\nglobal supply challenges for plastic raw materials. Budi stated that the\ncurrent global supply chain conditions are making plastic raw materials,\nparticularly naphtha, increasingly difficult to obtain. According to\nhim, shipping disruptions and competition between countries for raw\nmaterials are causing distribution to slow and plastic prices to\npotentially rise.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is actually an opportunity for us, yes, starting from small\nthings. From small things, we start to be wise in using plastic that\nmight or actually isn\u2019t necessary,\u201d said Budi in Jakarta on Thursday\n(16\/4\/2026).<\/p>\n<p>He gave an example of a simple habit, such as bringing one\u2019s own\nshopping bag when going to the market. This step is seen as able to\nreduce plastic use by traditional market traders, while also cutting\ndown on plastic waste.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf we bring a bag, that means traditional markets also reduce\nplastic use, right? Because when buying, traditional markets provide\nplastic. Plastic is expensive, traders are confused if they have to buy\nexpensive plastic, which then affects other staple goods,\u201d he\nexplained.<\/p>\n<p>Budi considers public participation important because plastic is used\nas packaging for various food commodities. Reducing plastic use is seen\nas able to help suppress traders\u2019 operational costs while maintaining\nprice stability at the consumer level.<\/p>\n<p>Although global supplies are under pressure, he assured that the\ncondition of staple goods prices domestically remains relatively\nstable.<\/p>\n<p>Based on direct monitoring in markets, including in Gresik, East\nJava, Budi said that prices of various commodities, such as chillies and\nother food items, are still in the normal range, even many below the\nhighest retail price (HET).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOverall, there hasn\u2019t been any significant increase yet. Yesterday I\nchecked the market in Gresik, it was very cheap. All kinds of chillies\nhad standard prices. On average, even below HET. So, I think it hasn\u2019t\nsignificantly affected prices,\u201d said Budi.<\/p>\n<p>The government is currently continuing to coordinate with industry\nplayers and Indonesian trade representatives abroad to expand sources of\nplastic raw material supplies from various countries so that national\nindustry needs remain fulfilled.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trade-minister-reveals-reducing-plastic-use-can-lower-staple-goods-prices-1776336719",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}