InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – At the national textile event INACRAFT 2025, a new innovation in the batik industry was officially introduced. A collaboration between the Laweyan Batik Village Development Forum (FPKBL), WWF-Indonesia, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), APICAL, Trisakti University’s CECT, Daemeter, and Control Union has produced batik made from environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. This product uses palm oil-based wax that has been processed according to sustainability principles.
This palm oil-based batik is expected to become a flagship product that combines the uniqueness of Indonesian culture with sustainable practices, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). By purchasing this batik, consumers not only receive a high-quality product but also contribute to environmental preservation.
WWF-Indonesia plays an active role in supporting FPKBL through Sustainable Action Plan training, enabling FPKBL to develop an action plan for using RSPO-certified batik wax. Additionally, WWF-Indonesia assists FPKBL in the Supply Chain Certification Standard (SCCS) audit process to ensure production meets sustainability standards.
"WWF-Indonesia believes that sustainably and responsibly managed palm oil does not harm the environment. With products like this palm oil-based batik, consumers now have the option to support environmentally friendly products," said Angga Prathama Putra, Sustainable Commodities Lead at WWF-Indonesia, during the introduction of the sustainable palm oil-based batik, attended by InfoSAWIT on Wednesday (February 5, 2025) in Jakarta.
For APICAL, a sustainable vegetable oil processing company, the use of Hydrogenated Palm Stearin (HPS) as a raw material for batik wax is an important innovation in the industry. This palm oil derivative, previously known in the consumption and fuel sectors, has now successfully penetrated the creative industry.
"Palm oil is the crop of the future with a variety of derivative products, from kitchen needs to aviation fuel. This collaboration in batik production proves that the palm oil industry is not just a commodity but also part of industrial downstreaming that supports a sustainable economy," said Prama Yudha Amdan, Head of Corporate Communications at Apical Group.
As an organization committed to sustainable palm oil production, RSPO views this initiative as a step forward in expanding sustainability benefits to the creative sector. "We believe that sustainability standards in the palm oil supply chain can open new opportunities for various industries, including batik. Sustainable palm oil-based products are not only environmentally friendly but also provide benefits for small and medium enterprises," said M Windrawan Inantha, Deputy Director of Market Transformation at RSPO.
Since 2022, RSPO has collaborated with FPKBL to create palm oil-based batik through four main approaches: FPKBL's membership in RSPO, capacity building for batik makers on sustainable palm oil, the use of RSPO-certified palm oil in batik production, and the marketing of sustainability-based batik.
With the launch of this palm oil-based batik, it is hoped that the creative industry will increasingly contribute to sustainable business practices. Additionally, this innovation is expected to inspire various other sectors to adopt more environmentally friendly production models. (T2)
