Indonesia produces approximately 85% of the world's raw rattan material, or roughly 622,000 tonnes per year, largely from forests in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua. Aside from wood, rattan raw material is a biological resource from forests that is highly valued economically. Rattan material is thought to have a positive impact on forest ecology, hence it is recognized as a green product. green product.
The use of rattan plants dates back to history and continues now. Many products made from rattan plants have both commercial and cultural value. In fact, local rattan items have been exported worldwide. The growing demand for these rattan items has created a new problem for industry players.
The shifting towards a more modern lifestyle has propelled a trend to a greater freedom in lifestyle preferences. The increase to outdoor activities such as outdoor parties and outdoor entertainments encourages a number of furniture that is more resistant to extreme weather conditions. During that time, solid wood was still commonly used for outdoor furniture. This resulted in a greater demand for furniture made from materials that could better withstand heat, cold, and humidity.
During the monetary crisis, rattan furniture became one of the most sought-after furniture in the market. In order to meet the demand which favored water-resistant furniture at that time, the innovation of rattan synthetic emerged. Synthetic rattan has experienced a significant surge in demand, causing the prices of synthetic rattan furniture to skyrocket.
Currently, both natural and synthetic rattan are still popular in the market, albeit with different objectives. Furniture made from natural rattan is frequently used indoors, whilst synthetic rattan furniture is designed especially for outdoor or semi-outdoor purposes. The decrease in natural rattan supply has made synthetic rattan an alternative in this industry, resulting in competitive pricing with natural rattan furniture.
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