Kantong

Kantong is a word in the Indonesian language that broadly denotes a container used to hold or carry items, including pockets in clothing and various types of bags. In everyday usage, kantong can describe the pocket sewn into garments, such as a shirt pocket or pants pocket. It also refers to bags or pouches designed to carry things, ranging from small purses to larger shopping bags. The term is commonly combined with modifiers to specify the type of container, for example kantong plastik (plastic bag), kantong belanja (shopping bag), kantong kain (cloth bag), and kantong kertas (paper bag). A related term is kantong darah, the blood bag used in medical transfusion.

In environmental and economic contexts, kantong plastik has been the focus of waste reduction measures in many countries, including Indonesia. Policies may include charges, bans, or incentives to promote reusable bags and reduce plastic consumption. Beyond consumer packaging, kantong also appears in medical and logistics settings as containers for materials or specimens.

Etymology: Kantong is a native Indonesian word also found in Malay, generally indicating a pocket or bag-shaped container.