Plastics & Rubber Indonesia responds to global challenges

Plastics & Rubber Indonesia 2022 opens on November 16 at the JIExpo Kemayoran Jakarta. The 33^rd edition of Indonesia's international exhibition for the plastics and rubber industry is organised by PT Pamerindo Indonesia (Pamerindo). This year, the exhibition focuses more on supporting Indonesia's plastics and rubber industry as it responds to global challenges - particularly related to circular economy and climate change - two major issues being faced today by the industrial sector.

According to Lia Indriasari, the Event Director of Pamerindo, a total of 337 exhibiting companies from 32 countries/region are participating in this event which targets more than 8,000 visitors. Resonating that Indonesia's plastics and rubber industry is projects to grow in the next years, Ms. Indriasari stated that there are numerous challenges that industry players are facing, especially on issues surrounding sustainability and climate change. Pamerindo pays special attention to the circular economy implementation, indicating its maturity as a provider of exhibition platforms.

The current edition of Plastics & Rubber Indonesia is set on the theme, “The Future of Plastic Sector in Indonesia” and targets to bring the business players to realise the importance and be open to the implementation of a circular business model.  In line with the implementation of G20 and the goals of Making Indonesia 4.0, Indonesia sends out stronger signals on the implementation of the circular economy. The implementation is forecasted to increase the GDP by 2.3% to 2.5% and the plastics industry is one of the five industrial sectors considered as priority.  

Launch of Circular Economy Zone

The Circular Economy Zone takes centre stage at this exhibition’s latest edition. For the first time, Pamerindo collaborates with Indonesian Plastics Recyclers (IPR) to present the Circular Economy Zone, which consists of industry players that already have sustainability programs in their business journey in order to inspire similar industries to move towards circularity.

Ahmad Nuzuluddin, Chairman of Indonesian Plastics Recyclers (IPR) commented: “’In Plastics & Rubber Indonesia 2022, we jointly attempt to develop a recycle ecosystem that views plastics as a solution, so we support the industry that has run the sustainability program to collaborate in improving the circular economy implementation.”

As for the downstream sector, the Indonesian Packaging Federation (IPF), represented by its Managing Director Henky Wibawa, elaborates that the plastic packaging industry has contributed to the industrial growth by 18% throughout 2022, yet the sector still needs to consider several aspects such has technological innovation, connection and collaboration aspects, financing, etc. that will drive the plastics industry move away from the linear economy applied previously towards a circular model.

Deni Febrianto, President/Director of PT Pertamina Petrochemical Trading which is one of the participants of the Circular Economy Zone, said that Pertamina Group supported the government’s’ objective of a green industry in the form of product innovation, such as PP Polytam resin and green refinery. PP Polytam has been developed with properties that enable it to be used repeatedly, thus it is in line with the sustainability principle as indicated in the circular economy concept. Such achievement strengthens the commitment and contribution of Pertamina's Manufacturing & Petrochemical business line to nationally fulfil the plastics raw materials to decrease dependence on imports, according to Mr. Febrianto.

Plastics & Rubber Indonesia 2022 will run until November 19 and features two concurrent events: Mould & Die Indonesia and Plaspak Indonesia. For more information, visit: www.plasticsandrubberindonesia.com