PISCES Living Labs: Co-creating solutions to tackle plastic pollution in Indonesia

Abstract

Policy Context: Indonesia, one of the world's largest contributors to marine plastic pollution, has taken significant steps towards improving its plastic waste management. Landmark initiatives such as the National Action Plan on Marine Debris and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulation signal a strong commitment to change. However, achieving the ambitious target of a 70% reduction in marine plastic debris by 2025 requires political will, strong regulatory enforcement, targeted investment and cross-sectoral engagement. Key Findings: The PISCES Living Lab, an infrastructure and hands-on space for developing and testing design solutions to the plastic packaging problem provided valuable insights into drivers and barriers to adopting innovative plastic waste reduction and management solutions. Advice: Policymakers should finance the creation of PISCES Living Labs in diverse socio-economic contexts. These Labs can support the development of upstream (e.g. alternative packaging designs) and downstream solutions (e.g. improved waste sorting and collection systems) specifically tailored to the needs of different contexts, as well as incentivising businesses to make use of these labs.