Abstract
Toba Samosir Regency is one of the centers of ulos weaving in North Sumatera. Most of the weaving processes are carried out traditionally by small-size enterprises. However, it is identified that there are 8 ulos weaving industries that utilize loom machine. To date, no holistic environmental impact assessment has yet been conducted on weaving industry in Toba Samosir. This study aims to assess potential environmental impact caused by weaving industry in Toba Samosir. The scope of this study covers gate-to-gate stages in ulos production, consisting mangiran, washing, dipping, drying, dying, boiling, sun-drying, weaving, and manirat. The functional unit of this study is 182 kg of ulos, representing one batch of production. The assessments are conducted by two approaches; these are Life Cycle Assessment and Eco-efficiency Index measurement. The LCA modeling and computation of environmental impacts are aided by openLCA software. From LCA, it is revealed that the potential environmental impacts associated with ulos weaving are Eutrophication Potential (5.28E+01 kg PO4 eq - 8.41E+01 kg PO4 eq), Climate Change Potential (7.17E+02 kg CO2 eq - 5.74E+02 kg CO2 eq), and Photochemical Oxidation Potential (3.40E+00 kg CFC-11 eq - 4.68E+01 kg CFC-11 eq). The major stressors causing these impacts are using firewood. The calculation result of Eco-Efficiency Index (EEI) for weaving industry in Toba Samosir Regency falls between 0,1 and 0,4, which indicates the product is affordable but not sustainable..
Highlights
Eco-efficiency concept was firstly introduced by World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in 1992
This study aims to assess the environmental impact of the entire production process of ulos weaving produced by the machine looms
Laboratory testing is conducted by taking waste samples from 3 ulos weaving factories which is shown in table 2
Summary
Eco-efficiency concept was firstly introduced by World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in 1992. Along with the higher level of public awareness in developing the industry by considering environmental sustainability aspects, the ecoefficiency concept is very appropriate if it can be practiced in the industrial world. The research related to eco-efficiency is still largely focused on big industries, not many have touched the Small and Medium Industries (SMI). The process of making ulos cannot be separated from the use of chemicals, especially in the yarn coloring process using synthetic dyes. There has not been yet measurement and research that measures the impact on the production process of ulos
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