Corporate bankruptcy: Evidence from the plastics and packaging industry in Indonesia

Abstract

This study analyzes the bankruptcies of companies in the plastic and packaging industry listed on the Indonesian stock exchange. This analysis is essential to know the condition of the company's performance and in what position. The hope is to assist stakeholders in making the best decisions for sustainability. The positive contribution of the plastics and packaging industry in supporting economic growth in Indonesia, as well as the challenges of global issues regarding the negative impact of use, requires companies to avoid financial distress or bankruptcy. However, recent research argues that very few company managers try hard to avoid the risk of bankruptcy. This quantitative descriptive research takes a sample of 10 companies selected purposively with predetermined criteria. Following the arguments of Altman (1983), the research analysis uses the Altman Z-Score for a sample of firms in one homogeneous industry. The results showed that, in general, the plastic and packaging industry was potentially vulnerable and had financial distress or went bankrupt, and there was only one healthy company. The results of this study also have an essential contribution for stakeholders to detect early on the company's financial condition and help make sound managerial decisions.