TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Nexus 3 Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on environmental issues, stated that Indonesia is the country with the highest microplastic waste production from food waste. Yuyun Ismawati, Senior Advisor at the Nexus 3 Foundation, explained that this figure refers to an estimated consumption of 15 grams of microplastics per person per month in Indonesia, mostly from seafood and table salt.
"Based on scientific research published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology," she told Tempo on Monday, July 28, 2025.
For comparison, the microplastic content in local table salt in Indonesia is 100 times higher than in similar products in the United States. "That's just table salt, not including other types of food, whether or not wrapped in plastic."
A review in Earth in May 2024 also identified several Southeast Asian countries with high microplastic consumption. While Indonesia is in first place, Malaysia is next with an estimated consumption of 12-15 grams per capita per month, followed by the Philippines with 11 grams per capita per month.
According to Yuyun, the Indonesian government still uses data showing plastic consumption in Indonesia, which is only around 20 kilograms per capita per year—equivalent to one-tenth of the population of Europe. Meanwhile, Indonesia's microplastic consumption remains the highest in the world. "There's always a justification for low plastic consumption," she said.
In Indonesia, according to research by the Nexus 3 Foundation, the largest plastic consumer is the food and beverage industry. This processing sector uses up to 60 percent of the total plastic production process.
Plastic is also distributed to the housing and construction industry, accounting for 15 percent, the automotive industry for 8 percent, and the remainder for agricultural industries such as horticulture. "(Products like motorcycle tire rubber, food and beverage packaging, or chili plant protectors," said Yuyun.
What Types of Plastic Does Indonesia Consume?
Some of the most common types of plastic used by industry in Indonesia are flexible polyethylene (PE) for plastic bags or bottles, then stiffer and heat-resistant polypropylene (PP) for food containers or bottle caps, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for pipes and cables. There's also lightweight polystyrene (PS) for Styrofoam or plastic spoons, and transparent yet strong polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for beverage bottles.
These types of plastic contain chemical compounds that can spread through water, air, and food. The risk is hormonal disruption. "There are impacts if we are exposed every day, ranging from decreased IQ and attention deficit disorder (ADHD) in children, to breast cancer, to cancer," she said.
Yuyun added that the number of cancers in Indonesia caused by bioplastics and chemicals in plastic is predicted to increase by 77 percent by 2050. "This doesn't include the number of infertility and decreased sperm quality," he said.
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