ECOTON Introduces the Microplastic Era Through the “Plastic Baby” Art Installation

 

The "Microplastic Baby' art installation at the Urban Market Youth Forum 2026
was held during ramadhan from february 28 to March 8, 2026
,at Rajawali Road Kota Lama Surabaya (saturday, february 28, 2026)  

Surabaya (28/2) – Ecoton presented an art installation titled “Microplastic Baby” at the Urban Market Kota Lama Surabaya event organized by the Surabaya Youth Forum from February 28 to March 8, 2026. In addition to displaying the Microplastic Baby installation, Ecoton also showcased a giant plastic bottle tap reaching 7 meters in height. The Urban Market Youth Forum 2026 activities were held in the late afternoon until evening, just before iftar during Ramadan. “We want to provide information about the dangers of using single-use plastic food packaging, which ultimately leads to health problems,” said Alaikan Rahmatullah. The Coordinator of the East Java Gen Z Network Against Single-Use Plastics (JEJAK) further explained that art installations serve as a medium for public education to introduce the increasingly alarming health impacts of single-use plastic use. The “Microplastic Baby” art installation at the Urban Market Youth Forum 2026 was held during Ramadan, from February 28 to March 8, 2026.

The “Microplastic Baby” installation illustrates a public health emergency caused by microplastic exposure, which no longer only pollutes rivers and oceans but has now been found in the human body. Ecoton’s latest findings throughout 2025–2026 show microplastic contamination in amniotic fluid, women’s blood, and urine. This fact marks the arrival of the microplastic era—a phase in which a civilization that has depended on single-use plastics for nearly eight decades is beginning to reap the health consequences.

“In a civilization that has relied on single-use plastics for almost eight decades, humanity has enjoyed all the conveniences and instant lifestyles they offer. Now it is time for humans to harvest the wages in the form of microplastic contamination in our blood and organs,” said Alaika Rahmatullah. He further explained that the health impacts of microplastics range from hormonal disruption and inflammation to potential cancer risks and reproductive disorders. These are the consequences of uncontrolled consumer behavior and throwaway culture.

Several crucial facts were also presented in the exhibition:

1. Indonesia is one of the world’s largest contributors of plastic waste to the ocean.

2. Approximately 57% of the population still burns waste, risking the release of toxic substances such as dioxins and furans into the air.

3. The average microplastic consumption of Indonesians is estimated at 15 grams per capita per month, indicating high levels of plastic exposure in daily life.

This exhibition aims to educate the public about the real threat of single-use plastics while encouraging behavioral change toward a low-waste lifestyle.

Gen Z as the Driving Force of Change Against Single-Use Plastics

Most visitors to Urban Market Youth Forum 2026 were Gen Z, and Ecoton considers it essential to educate this generation, given that 21% of Indonesia’s population belongs to Gen Z. “More than 70 million Indonesians, or around 21% of the population, are part of Generation Z, and our survey shows that 83% of Gen Z are willing to change their behavior to reduce single-use plastic use,” said Jofany Ahmad.

Through this exhibition, Ecoton calls on the public and the government to take concrete actions, including:

• Reducing the use of single-use plastics such as plastic bags, bottled water, straws, and sachet packaging.

• Bringing reusable shopping bags, refillable water bottles, and personal food containers.

• The government must issue regulations to reduce or restrict single-use plastics and prioritize reduction targets at both national and regional levels to control consumptive behavior toward single-use plastics.

• The public must separate waste at home and stop burning waste to avoid airborne microplastic exposure and the accumulation of waste in landfills.

• Producers must limit and redesign packaging toward reusable container and business transformation models.

• Communities must actively push governments and industries to shut off the tap of single-use plastic production.

Reuse Culture

Ecoton provides a concrete example in reducing sachet plastic. The Coordinator of Refillin Ecoton, Jofany Ahmad, explained that reuse schemes are highly effective in reducing single-use plastics. Research on consumer behavior within the reuse system implemented by Ecoton through Refillin shows that consumers who adopt reuse practices can reduce 180–200 units of 40 ml sachet packaging per month. Furthermore, Jofany stated that if Surabaya’s approximately 2.5 million residents adopt a reuse system, the movement would not burden regional fiscal resources in managing waste.

“Change cannot rely solely on consumers. Industry must take responsibility, and the government must be courageous in limiting or even stopping single-use plastic production. Without that, future generations will continue to inherit contaminated bodies,” Jofany emphasized.