Organic Material for Clean Production in the Batik Industry: A Case Study of Natural Batik Semarang, Indonesia

Nana Kariada Tri Martuti,Margunani Margunani,Radhitya Bayu Alafima,Isti Hidayah

doi:10.3390/recycling5040028

Nana Kariada Tri Martuti, Margunani Margunani + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling5040028

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Abstract

Batik has become more desirable in the current fashion mode within the global market, but the environmental damage induced by this fabric’s synthetic dye practices is a matter of concern. This study aimed to discuss the application of organic materials as natural dyes in the clean production of textiles to maintain the environment. The research was a case study from the community services program in Kampung Malon, Gunungpati, Semarang City, Indonesia, focused on the batik home industry of the Zie Batik fabric. Furthermore, natural pigments from various plant organs (stem, leaves, wood, bark, and fruit) of diverse species, including Caesalpinia sappan, Ceriops candolleana, Maclura cochinchinensis, Indigofera tinctorial, I. arrecta, Rhizopora spp., Strobilantes cusia, and Terminalia bellirica were used for this type of material. These pigments are more biodegradable, relatively safe, and easily obtained with zero liquid waste compared to the synthetic variants. The leftover wastewater from the coloring stages was further utilized for other processes. Subsequently, the remaining organic waste from the whole procedure was employed as compost and/or timber for batik production, although a large amount of the wastewater containing sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), alum (KAl(SO4)2·12H2O), and fixatives (Ca(OH)2 and FeSO4) were discharged into the environment during the process of mordanting and fixating, with the requirement of additional treatment.

Highlights

The Indonesian traditional batik is recognized as a masterpiece within the oral and intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO [1,2]
In the Semarangan motifs, the natural dye batik is fully decorated with the iconic buildings of Semarang City, such as Tugu Muda (TM), Lawang Sewu (LS), and Gereja Blendug (GB), as well as the city mascot Warak Ngendok (WN), a well-known mythological animal in Semarang City
The locus of this study was in Malon Village, with a focus on the Zie Batik small to medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), due to the following reasons: (1) Zie Batik has been developing clean production since 2006; (2) it was the first SME to develop natural dyes as its core business in Semarang City; (3) it served as the city governments reference for eco-friendly lessons on natural batik; and (4) it provides resource personnel to act as trainers for eco-friendly process learning in natural batik production

Summary

Introduction

The Indonesian traditional batik is recognized as a masterpiece within the oral and intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO [1,2]. Issues of synthetic dye practices have generated a decline in the selling demand of this fabric in several destination countries. This is because the usage of manmade variants of synthetic dyes potentially generate serious problems for animal and human health [5], including cancer [6,7], as well as polluting. Various studies have shown an extremely high content of dangerous heavy metals, including Cd, Cr [11], Cu, and Pb, around areas of the batik industry [12,13]

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