Indonesian Consumer Group Highlights Discrimination in Reusable Water Bottle Safety Standards: BPA vs. BPA-Free
INFO NASIONAL - The Chairman of the Indonesian Consumer Community (KKI), David Tobing, highlighted the practice of one of the leading foreign bottled water brands that distributes two types of reusable bottles with different packaging safety standards but are sold at the same price.
“Why does the same manufacturer distribute two different packaging safety standards? Consumers are questioning this discrimination in quality and safety,” he said on Thursday, April 20, 2026.
David explained that for years, the reusable bottle market in Indonesia has been dominated by polycarbonate bottles, which are known to contain Bisphenol A (BPA). Only since 2019 has the leading foreign bottled water brand begun to introduce reusable bottles made of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), which are BPA-free, with initial distribution limited to several regions.
The expansion to the Java market only occurred in 2024. Now, both types of bottles are circulating in the market and sold to consumers at the same price, even though the safety standards of the materials are different.
Based on a report of complaints from 250 consumers in seven major cities collected by the KKI during March to April 2026, as many as 62 percent of consumers stated that they were aware of the difference between the two types of bottles. They questioned why there should be a difference in bottle safety and felt they were entitled to bottles of better quality. “There is one principle in trade, if the price is the same, then the quality should also be the same,” David emphasised.
David explained that this issue of discrimination emerged in consumer reports because consumers are now more aware of the types of plastic used as water bottle materials. Consumer protection standards require transparency and equal value between the price paid and the quality of the product received.
Furthermore, consumers who buy reusable polycarbonate bottles often receive bottles that are quite old. As many as 92 percent of consumers reported receiving bottles that are more than one year old. They also complained about the physical condition of the old bottles, with 30 percent reported as dull or mossy and 18 percent cracked. “The older the bottle, the more diverse the complaints. Physical problems, dirt, dullness, and cracks. This dominates consumer reports,” David explained.
On the other hand, polycarbonate bottles have the risk of BPA leaching, especially if exposed to sunlight during distribution, washed in a non-standard way, and used repeatedly. Polymer experts from the University of Indonesia have recommended a safe limit for the use of polycarbonate bottles of a maximum of 1 year or 40 refills to prevent BPA leaching, which can trigger obesity, diabetes, and reproductive disorders. “If the price is the same, consumers are entitled to the same safety, security, and comfort,” said David.
The KKI encourages the government to immediately establish stricter regulations to standardise the safety of reusable bottles and increase consumer protection against the circulation of bottles that have been used for too long.
“The lack of regulations on the lifespan for reuse is the root of the problem that must be addressed. The country needs regulations that protect public health, not just the profits of producers.”