In the past couple of years, Indonesia has been facing an urgent plastic pollution crisis that has led Indonesia to be the second largest plastic waste contributor after China. This alarmed The UN to consider Indonesia's plastic pollution crisis as “a slow motion catastrophe”. 

 

According to the UN, 8 million tonnes of plastic are dumped in the ocean every year. Indonesia is estimated to have contributed 600,000 tonnes of plastic. 

 

The government responded to the crisis by establishing solutions that involve large workforces and participation of the public. In 2017, Indonesia developed a national action plan of reducing marine plastic up to 70% by 2025. Two years later, the action plan resulted in the banning of single use plastic in mini-markets. 

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Indonesia also showed further initiatives through innovative solutions. Together with the United Nations Development Programme and the Norwegian Government, Indonesia’s government launched a Southeast Asia-wide competition of innovative ending plastic pollution challenges. 

 

As of now, Indonesia is steadily facing the plastic pollution crisis and prioritizing the concept of producing less waste for a greener future. 

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Written by: Nabiha Shihab