Batik Life Cycle Assessment Analysis (LCA) for Improving Batik Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Sustainable Production in Surakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

Batik is one of Indonesian traditional fabrics with substantial values, honored by UNICEF as intangible cultural heritage in 2009, and has been exist since long time ago. Previously, the local wisdom of using natural dyes preserved the environment during batik production. Recently, due to the high demand, economic motives, and the effort to get affordable raw materials for cost saving, many unsustainable common practices are conducted by the SMEs during their production as the majority producers of Indonesian batik. It occurs most especially due to several limitations and challenges faced by the SMEs. This research provides ideas to improve batik production by the SMEs with environmentally conscious designs and sustainability through innovation in batik product life cycle design. By using LCA cradle to gate methodology with CML-IA method, the environmental burden occurred during batik stamp production is estimated. The estimation results are transformed into several recommendations for more sustainable batik life cycle design by SMEs in Surakarta, Indonesia.