JAKARTA – Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) has begun encouraging the use of non-plastic packaging, particularly paper or paperboard-based materials, as part of efforts to build a more environmentally sustainable industrial base.

Industry minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said paper-based packaging is now sufficiently competitive and already widely used in the food and beverage sector.

“Paper packaging is already widely used for products such as milk and beverages. We remain committed to accelerating the development of alternative packaging materials through business matching schemes between producers and users,” Agus said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday (24/4).

He added that paper packaging now accounts for around 28% of total packaging used in the national food and beverage industry.

Meanwhile, Acting Director-General of Agro Industry at the ministry, Putu Juli Ardika, said the use of paper-based aseptic packaging aligns with the government’s policy direction to promote a more sustainable industrial sector.

Chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Producers Association, Adhi S. Lukman, said the development of alternative packaging is necessary to maintain industry competitiveness.

“In anticipating various industry challenges, there are two key aspects: procurement and manufacturing. The manufacturing division must improve efficiency to remain competitive, while procurement needs to broaden sourcing,” Adhi said.

He added that site visits and workshops with industry players form part of efforts to identify alternative packaging solutions.

Director of Beverages, Tobacco Products and Refreshing Materials, Merrijantij Punguan Pintaria, also highlighted the importance of sustainable packaging innovation for domestic industry.

“It should be noted that the cost of paper-based aseptic packaging is not directly comparable with plastic packaging. However, on a full-cost basis, it can be equivalent as it does not require cold chain logistics and its raw materials are relatively stable,” she said.

Data from the Ministry of Industry show that national demand for aseptic packaging reaches around 8.3 billion units per year, with nearly half coming from milk and dairy products.

Domestic production capacity is said to be sufficient and even exceeds national demand.

Looking ahead, the ministry said it would continue to drive industrial transformation through policy incentives, technological modernisation, and sustainable development, including the adoption of paper-based packaging as an alternative to plastic. (DK/ZH)