“ We are interested in finding partners with a good network in the market who can effectively brand and market the product as an excellent alternative to plastic bags. ”
Our products are unique compared to those which are found on the market today because it is eco-friendly and it is manufactured using technology that can be utilised by companies operating in emerging markets. We hope that our products are able to be used in Indonesia and in overseas markets particularly because the production process of our goods utilise accessible raw materials such as tapioca, corn, etc. This, therefore, means that emerging markets who have an abundance of starch supply, are able to manufacture our products. This accessibility to raw materials also paves the way for countries to lessen their dependability on aid from advanced economies – an aspect that numerous international organisations strive to achieve. Our hope is that the technology we offer will be maximised in terms of use by Indonesian companies in addition to international companies. There are various ways in which this can be implemented such as by importing our products and eventually producing the final products or, as market volume increases, it could also be carried out by manufacturing the bio-based pellets and final products on their own.
Furthermore, following on from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) meeting in 2016 in Vienna, UNIDO members along with the Ministers of both Industry and Maritime Affairs of Indonesia, saw potential in our products and our technology in propelling industrial growth for emerging nation particularly for the African continent. As concerns over excess plastic waste especially in the oceans continue becoming the centre of many government’s agendas, ENVIPLAST® products’ ability to biodegrade in nature as well as its safe quality if accidentally consumed by animals thus sets it apart from other competitors.
Going forward, we are looking to share our technological advancements in addition to exporting a larger number of our bio-based pellets to other companies. Moreover, although we currently produce bio-based finished products, we are eager to educate our stakeholders and showcase our highly efficient production process.
When the Ministry of Environment and Forestry carried out a field experiment by charging plastic bags in 23 cities across Indonesia, this did create a positive impact as seen by the decline of the use of conventional plastic bags; however, the government still faces many challenges in this regard. We hope that the government can issue clear regulations on the mandatory use of biodegradable bags by retailers and in the long-term, other industries as well. This will help curb the plastic bags waste issue in Indonesia, especially as evidence continues to grow surrounding the environmental damage caused by conventional PE bags.
Based on my experience, the concern is not necessarily about public awareness on the negative impact of plastic use and excess plastic waste; the problem is more so with the facilities and resources to minimise it. There is a lack of discipline in regards to garbage disposal methods which need to be addressed. Plastic bag waste is a global issue, even amongst developed countries, however, they are not experiencing plastic bag waste problems because they have implemented clear regulations and are also well-equipped with waste management processes. Indonesia is still far from taking concrete steps in curbing the national plastic bag waste problem and it is hoped that the government can find the correct solutions to this issue.
Based on my analysis, the countries that boast the most potential in terms of bioplastics growth are countries that have a high percentage of plastic bag usage such as China. In addition, we believe that India is set to join the bioplastic product growth in the future now that the Indian government has issued a regulation specifically on plastic bag alternatives.
It is worth noting that we are well aware that the conventional plastic industry will one day experience a difficult phase as most are manufactured using fossil-based materials as raw materials and are thus finite. Recent trends have also indicated that scientists today are looking for plastics that are both bio-based and biodegradable as well as exploring sustainable measures in manufacturing these types of products. This puts a special highlight on raw materials that are bio-based and which can be sourced within a short period of time such as cassava or corn and vegetable oil thus strategically positioning bioplastics such as ENVIPLAST®’s products for the coming future.
We remain open in working alongside companies or investors who are interested in our products as well as those who are keen on developing our technology in their respective countries. We are also interested in partnering with international investors with access to an abundance of raw materials (cassava/ corn) resources given the immense potential of bioplastics. However, taking into consideration Indonesia’s size, population, and plastic waste problems, we do believe the Indonesian market has immense potential if such environmental issues are resolved.
What we do is not a short-term business venture because we are involved in an area of business that is for the long-term, and thus our contributions may not be seen in the near future. The long-term goal of our company also means that the younger generation will have an influential role in driving the growth of bioplastic products and as such, we encourage today’s Indonesian youth and the government to continue pushing for environmental sustainability measures for the sake of all our future.