House Speaker: Surging Plastic Prices Should Be a Moment to Switch to Natural Materials

The soaring prices of plastic, which have multiplied several times over, and the increasingly difficult supply are causing small business operators, who have been operating with limited profits, to face even greater economic difficulties. Jakarta (ANTARA) - House of Representatives Speaker RI Puan Maharani stated that the current surge in plastic prices should serve as a momentum for society to switch to packaging made from natural and more environmentally friendly materials. She did not deny that plastic packaging is needed in daily life because it is very practical. However, she reminded that plastic carries a very high ecological burden. “Therefore, the rise in plastic prices can become a momentum for us to shift to a green economy,” Puan said in Jakarta on Wednesday. “The plastic prices that have surged several times over and the supply that is starting to be difficult to obtain are causing small business operators, who have been working with limited profits, to face increasing economic difficulties,” she said. For this reason, she encouraged the use of product packaging to return to local wisdom models. In the past, among ancestors, the use of natural material packaging like leaves was the main alternative. “Food or staple traders can return to utilising environmentally friendly packaging like that,” she said. She exemplified that banana leaf or teak leaf packaging is still commonly found in several regions, for example in Central Java where many sellers of nasi liwet, gudeg, or mi lethek use leaves for wrapping. Even for certain types, according to her, the use of natural packaging is actually more effective because it can make food last longer and add fragrance to its aroma. Even what is still commonly used is the use of banana leaves for food like lontong and lemper. “By using organic material packaging, business operators can not only avoid economic pressures due to high imported raw material costs, but also increase selling value,” she said. “Organic packaging rich in local wisdom is also a creative economy innovation. In addition to supporting Indonesia’s cultural heritage, we are also promoting an environmentally friendly movement,” she said. Therefore, she asked relevant ministries and institutions to prepare a solid system, regulations, and massive socialisation if the use of traditional packaging is revived. “If the system supports it, I am confident it is not impossible for organic materials to replace single-use plastic packaging,” she said. Several relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Trade, and the Ministry of Creative Economy, according to her, need to collaborate to find alternative packaging solutions to replace plastic for business operators. “The government needs to provide support and facilitate the needs of society for alternative packaging, especially for business operators and consumers. We in the House of Representatives will also carry out oversight in accordance with the duties and authority of the council,” she said.