DPR Speaker Suggests Use of Leaf Packaging as Plastic Costs Jump

4 hours ago 3

April 18, 2026 | 01:22 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Speaker of Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR), Puan Maharani, has said that the rising price of plastic should serve as an opportunity to return to the use of natural packaging materials, noting that leaves could be an alternative for food vendors.

She said small traders are among those most affected by the increase in plastic prices, which have surged by 30 to 80 percent due to global geopolitical tensions disrupting supply chains.

“In the past, leaf-based packaging was often used instead of plastic. Food vendors can return to environmentally friendly packaging like that,” Puan said in a written statement quoted on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

She added that natural packaging such as banana leaves and teak leaves is still used in various regions. In Central Java, for example, traditional food sellers commonly use leaves to wrap local dishes.

The PDI Perjuangan executive said natural packaging can be more effective than plastic, noting that leaf wrappers may help preserve food longer and enhance aroma.

“By using organic packaging, business actors can not only avoid economic pressure from rising imported raw material costs but also increase product value,” she said.

Puan said natural packaging is both cost-efficient and environmentally friendly, while plastic continues to add to ecological burdens.

“As long as plastic prices are high, we can look for alternative packaging that also reduces plastic waste,” she said.

She acknowledged that shifting away from plastic requires a transition period and behavioral adjustment. She urged the government to prepare a comprehensive system and regulatory framework to support the use of alternative packaging.

“If the system supports it, I am confident that organic materials can replace single-use plastic packaging,” she said.

Read: Prabowo Briefs DPRD Leaders Nationwide in Closed-Door Meeting

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