Pramono says rising plastic prices should be an opportunity for innovation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung stated that the rising price of plastic should serve as an opportunity for society and the government to innovate in finding substitutes for plastic as packaging. “We must innovate because the need for plastic must gradually be reduced. There must be a substitute,” said Pram in Jakarta on Sunday. Pramono explained that the determination of prices and efforts to handle the increase in plastic prices are not under the authority of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, but rather the central government. However, according to him, besides innovating, the rise in plastic prices can also be an opportunity for all parties to return to using traditional wrapping methods. “If the situation remains like this, it will certainly become a burden. Therefore, sometimes we have to go back to traditional methods using wrapping, banana leaves, and so on,” he said. The price of plastic bags has risen from Rp10,000 to Rp15,000 per pack, while other types have increased from Rp20,000 to Rp25,000 per pack. The central government is preparing several strategic steps to respond to the increase in plastic raw material prices and various other commodities affected by global geopolitical dynamics, particularly the conflict in the Middle East region. According to him, the government realises that global turbulence, including rising energy prices, directly impacts the domestic industry sector, one of which is the plastics industry whose raw materials are still imported.