Enterprises from various sectors have expressed their support for Indonesia’s energetic participation within the United Nations Global Plastics Treaty to combat plastic pollution. This support comes ahead of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5), which will probably be held in Busan, South Korea, from 25 November to 1 December 2024.
The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty (BCGPT) made the announcement in a press release in Jakarta on Thursday (November 21) after a gathering with the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq. The discussion concerned the implementation of Regulation No. P.75/2019 on reducing the quantity of waste by producers.
The Global Initiative for a Treaty on Plastic Pollution was launched on the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in March 2022, where 175 countries agreed to develop a world legally binding instrument (ILBI) to deal with plastic pollution artificial ones, including within the marine environment.
The problem of plastic pollution in Indonesia
The global plastic waste crisis, specifically plastic pollution, requires urgent motion. According to UNEP, the equivalent of two,000 truckloads of plastic waste results in aquatic ecosystems every single day, and 19-23 million tons of plastic enters lakes, rivers and oceans annually.
In Indonesia, the Ministry of Industry reported that in 2021, the quantity of plastic raw materials reached 7,965 tons, but in 2022, the recycling rate was only 12%. In 2023, the Ministry of Environment and Forests reported that 76.6% of waste in Indonesia ended up in landfills and 54.4% in open landfills.
Data from the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN) also showed that plastic consumption in Indonesia increased from 16.74% in 2019 to 19.59% in 2023. It is anticipated that if immediate motion is just not taken, Indonesia’s landfill capability will exceed capability by 2028.
While the Indonesian government has set ambitious targets to cut back marine litter and plastic pollution by 30% and 70% respectively by 2025 as a part of its 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) initiatives, available data shows that significant challenges remain.
A 2020 study by TKNPSL found that 0.615 million tonnes of plastic waste will proceed to find yourself within the oceans yearly. By the tip of 2023, BAPPENAS data showed that the reduction in plastic waste entering the oceans had only reached 41.68%, well below the goal.
Global Plastics Treaty
In the run-up to INC-5, the BCGPT stressed the importance of a legally binding agreement covering your entire life cycle of plastics to effectively address pollution. INC-5 is anticipated to be a key moment for stakeholders because the Global Plastics Treaty goals to be a world instrument to support a worldwide green economy.
ILBI goals to make sure an inclusive and just transition and minimize risks, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises and informal employees within the waste management sector. Since October 2024, Indonesia has been collecting information on the draft treaty, which will probably be the premise for diplomatic discussions on the INC-5 meeting with several ministries and relevant stakeholders.
