Bali, Indonesia — The provincial government of Bali has announced plans to ban the production of plastic sachets beginning in 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to reduce plastic waste and address environmental concerns.
This upcoming policy follows a prior measure that prohibits the sale and distribution of bottled water in containers smaller than one liter, under Governor Circular No. 9/2025 on the Bali Clean Movement.
“I fully support it. This has gone through a study on small-sized sachets, and whether [the ban] will be decided this year or next year [in 2026].” Said I Nyoman Giri Prasta.
Focus Remains on Bottled Water Ban
Deputy Governor Tjok Bagus Pemayun stated that the sachet ban will be implemented after authorities complete enforcement of the current bottled water packaging restrictions. He emphasized that the immediate priority remains the successful rollout of the small-bottle ban.
The government argues that limiting single-use plastic packaging is crucial to mitigating pollution issues long raised by environmental advocates.
Environmental Groups Support the Move
The initiative has received backing from the River and Waterbody Research Agency (BRUIN), which has urged the Bali administration to expand its plastic reduction policies. Muhammad Kholif Basyaiban, BRUIN’s waste census coordinator, said the provincial government should refer to existing national regulations such as Law No. 18/2008 on Waste Management and the Environment and Forestry Ministerial Decree No. 75/2019, both of which emphasize producer responsibility in waste treatment.
According to data from the National Waste Management Information System, Bali generated an estimated 1.2 million tons of plastic waste in 2024.
Industry Stakeholders Voice Concerns
Despite the policy’s environmental goals, resistance has emerged from within the bottled water industry. Two bottled water producers in Bali have voiced opposition to the restriction on small packaging, arguing that the policy unfairly targets their sector.
“Environmental preservation policies in Bali are indeed important and urgent, but they cannot be implemented unilaterally without a mechanism for dialogue and legal protection for local businesses,” said I Gede Wiradhitya Samuhata, Managing Director of CV Tirta Taman Bali, on Monday.
Nyoman Arta Widyana, President Director of PT Tirta Mumbul Jaya Abadi, said that if plastic packaging is to be restricted, the same standard should apply across all products, not solely bottled water. He noted that his company already uses recyclable PET and PP materials and added that broader bans would ensure more equitable enforcement.
Another producer representative emphasized that the government’s focus should shift from production bans to improving waste management systems. This would include public education, producer accountability, and incentives for recycling.
Next Steps
While the ban on plastic sachets is not set to take effect until 2026, the provincial government continues to prioritize enforcement of the bottled water packaging restrictions introduced earlier this year.
Officials have indicated that future steps may involve additional limitations on other forms of plastic packaging, pending assessment and policy outcomes.
