How Power Dynamics Influence the Transition Towards a Circular Flexible Packaging Value Chain in Jakarta

While having many benefits, flexible packaging has become one of the most polluting materials in Jakarta’s rivers. To counteract this pollution, a transition towards a circular flexible packaging value chain is required. This chapter explores how flexible packaging value chain actors in Jakarta enable or inhibit this transition. A power analysis was done, based on document reviews and interviews, to identify challenges and opportunities for a circular flexible packaging transition. Producers are found to be the most powerful actors in enabling and constraining the transition to circular flexible packaging in Jakarta. Although government plays a role in stimulating producers to adopt circular flexible plastic practices through extended producer responsibility (EPR), the EPR initiatives are still fragmented and bypass both local producers and the informal sector. The EPR initiatives only focus on improving collection and recycling waste and are not yet focused on creating systemic changes, particularly in the production process. In order for that to happen, governmental regulation needs to be enforced more, and the expected guidelines for the packaging design should be implemented. Moreover, through multi-stakeholder collaboration, retailers and consumers should be supported to maximise their power to change the use and disposal of flexible packaging beyond the emerging circular retailing and recycling initiatives.