Celebrating World Environment Day – June 5, 2025
#BeatPlasticPollution

Plastic Pollution: The Consequences of an Unregulated Industry

Plastics (man-made synthetic polymers) were first developed in the mid-1800s, alongside the Industrial Revolution. They were created with a noble goal: to replace natural materials (which had been over-extracted) with materials that were lightweight, strong, durable, inexpensive, and mass-producible.  

However, that advantage has backfired. In a modern economy driven by speed and efficiency, plastic has become the go-to choice. Consumption has skyrocketed, while its non-biodegradable nature makes it a long-term environmental threat. It takes hundreds of years for plastic to fully decompose.  

According to data the OECD, the world is projected to consume 516 million tons of plastic by 2025, and this figure could even reach 1.2 billion tons by 2060. This waste spreads into the soil, air, water, and even the human body. Plastic waste has been found from the Mariana Trench to the summit of Everest, and microplastics have been found in the stomachs of fish and blood vessels, lungs, the human brain and breast milk. 

Read: World Environment Day

The Impact in Indonesia: Already Uneven, Still Plagued by Pollution 

Indonesia is now ranked as the third-largest producer of plastic pollution in the world in the world. The problem extends beyond mere consumption and waste volumes; it also involves structural inequalities that exacerbate the impact. 

Recently, a story went viral about a small-scale tofu business in Sidoarjo that uses plastic waste as fuel. This practice produces toxic air pollution that not only contaminates the environment but also poses a high risk of entering the food being produced. Such industries thrive due to economic realities: alternative fuels are cheaper than clean energy sources. 

“It’s hard to find wood at an affordable price,” said Gufron (Manufacturer). 

Read: The Dilemma of Home-Based Tofu Entrepreneurs: Using Plastic Waste as Fuel for Production 

Here we ask: Are our regulations strong and fair enough to protect those affected, while also providing room for small businesses to thrive? 

Poverty and Consumption 

More than 50% of global single-use plastic waste is generated by large companies, particularly the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. An audit by Break Free from Plastic (BFFP), which analyzed more than 330,000 pieces of plastic waste across 40 countries, revealed the dominance of major brands—which also dominate the Indonesian market. 

While cheap plastic does make distribution easier, it also traps low-income consumers in a high-risk consumption cycle that harms their own environment. This is where disparities in access and information create a major gap in our system. The people with the fewest options are, in fact, the ones most severely affected. 

The Rules Are Already in Place—But What About Enforcement? 

The Indonesian government has actually issued Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 75 of 2019 on the Roadmap for Waste Reduction by Producers. However, transparency and accountability in its implementation remain weak. Few members of the public know whether producers are actually complying, and there is little room for the public to monitor the process. 

The solutions implemented by manufacturers to date have also been deemed inadequate and could potentially lead to new problems that are destructive in nature. 

“… The public must pressure manufacturers to comply with these regulations by shifting from the production of single-use plastic products to a system of reusable or refillable products. “Manufacturers should not use recycling as an excuse to reduce plastic waste, especially forms of recycling that have significant negative impacts on the environment, such asplastic-to-fuelor other chemical recycling methods,” explained Fajri Fadhillah, Head of the Division of Pollution and Environmental Damage Control at ICEL. 

When the public is not given information, is not involved, and is not protected from harmful practices, where are the principles of transparency and justice? 

See the full infographic at: Plastic Pollution, Marginalized Communities Struggle 

Pollution Requires a Collective Solution 

#BeatPlasticPollution isn’t just a call to clean up plastic. It’s a call to: 

• Putting an end to irresponsible industry practices,
• Ensuring that regulations are implemented fairly and transparently,
• Providing residents with opportunities to participate and be protected, and
• Ensuring the fundamental right to clean air, safe water, and safe food. 

When plastic pollutes our bodies and our environment, it doesn’t just leave behind pollutants—it leaves behind injustice.

#WeAreAnOpenSociety
Because in an open society, pollution isn’t just an environmental issue. It’s about the right to live a healthy, just, and dignified life.