Plastic Prices Surge Fourfold, Farhan Urges Residents to Change Shopping Habits

Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan has spotlighted the sudden surge in plastic packaging prices in Bandung, which is directly affecting business operators, particularly culinary SMEs. Farhan revealed that the price increase has reached up to four times in a short period, with effects felt by businesses since last weekend. “I received reports that the price of wrapping plastic has risen significantly. From the usual around Rp 15,000 per packet, it is now Rp 40,000,” said Farhan at the Bandung City Hall, on Wednesday (8/4/2026). According to him, this increase is a heavy burden on SMEs, especially those relying on takeaway services. Many of them have started complaining about the surge in operational costs due to the expensive packaging materials. Nevertheless, Farhan admitted he does not yet know the exact cause of the increase. However, he will soon investigate directly with distributors to ascertain the root of the problem. “I will find out as soon as possible what is really happening with plastic prices in Bandung,” he said. Amid this situation, Farhan sees a positive side that can be utilised. He believes this condition can be a momentum for the community to start reducing dependence on single-use plastics. He urged residents to get into the habit of bringing their own containers when shopping or buying food. “When going out, don’t forget to bring a shopping bag as a replacement for plastic bags and also bring food containers from home,” he advised. According to him, this simple step not only helps reduce the cost burden due to expensive plastic but also has a positive environmental impact by curbing the amount of waste. “Besides the high price, this is also an opportunity for us to reduce plastic waste,” he stated.