Fighting Plastic Pollution in Indonesia: Why Consumer Education is the Missing Link

This article is part of a series exploring the cooperation between Greiner Packaging and SampApp, with Greiner supporting the app’s mission to tackle plastic pollution in Indonesia through consumer education.

Imagine trying to reach over 200 million people with a message about plastic waste. People who may not yet realize how their daily habits affect not only the environment, but their own health and livelihoods. In Indonesia, that’s exactly the challenge.

Many people across the country still burn plastics near their homes, unaware of the toxic fumes they’re inhaling. Others discard plastic into rivers and canals, not knowing how this contributes to ocean pollution or declining fish stocks. The impact ripples through key sectors like tourism, fisheries, and public health -and yet, access to reliable information remains limited.

Indonesia generates more than seven million tons of plastic waste every year. Much of it is openly burned or dumped into the environment. Cleanup efforts, such as beach cleanups, river barriers, and marine retrieval operations, are often celebrated. However, they merely treat the symptoms, not the source. Pulling plastic out of rivers might feel like progress, but it does little to stop the constant stream flowing in.

Despite growing international attention and promising policy targets, many communities are still left without the tools to make informed choices. Without education, even the best infrastructure or policy will fall short–because the decisions fueling plastic waste begin at the individual level.

Take single-use plastic sachets for water or snacks, for example. In many regions, they are chosen not because people prefer them, but because they don’t know better options exist, or how these small choices contribute to a much larger crisis. The same goes for plastic bags handed out in traditional markets or excessive packaging for convenience products. These behaviors are rarely driven by apathy, but by ingrained habits, a lack of awareness, or limited access to alternatives.

Education isn't just about raising awareness. It is about empowering people with knowledge they can apply in daily life. That requires localized content, school engagement, and outreach that meets people where they are. This is where SampApp comes in, an educational app supported by Greiner Packaging. Through this partnership, Greiner is helping make reliable, engaging information on plastic waste and sustainable practices more accessible to communities across Indonesia.

Indonesia’s national goal to reduce plastic waste by 70% by 2025 is ambitious and commendable. But without an equally bold push to engage and educate citizens, that goal will be almost impossible to reach. Infrastructure can only do so much if everyday behavior continues to fuel the problem.

The path forward must center the consumer - not just as a source of waste, but as a key part of the solution. Because in the end, the most effective way to reduce plastic pollution is not to clean it up, but to stop it from being created in the first place.