Blue Water Footprint and Grey Water Footprint Assessment of Block-Printed Batik-Making Process Coloured by Indigo (Indigofera sp.), Tingi (Ceriops sp.) and Mahogany (Swietenia sp.) Dyes

Abstract

The Indonesian batik, which is usually produced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) often consumes a lot of water and causing environmental pollution. Therefore, a study to map the water use for batik production is required. This study examines the Blue Water Footprint (BWF) and Grey Water Footprint (GWF) of block-printed batik making-process coloured by Indigo (Indigofera sp.), Mahogany (Swietenia sp.) and Tingi (Ceriops sp.) dyes produced by a batik SME in Jarum village of Klaten Regency, Indonesia. The average BWF of block-printed batik making-process coloured by natural dyes was lower than the GWF and Indigo consumes more water in dyeing, followed by Tingi and Mahogany. The dyeing process consumes less water for BWF (2.96 L/pc), while the biggest portion of BWF was contributed from the wax removal process (152.81 L/pc). Implementation of cleaner production by managing the grey water, such as the implementation of communal Wastewater Treatment Plant, adopting water conservation strategies and educating the craftsmen are necessary to achieve batik and water resource sustainability.