A new palm oil-based batik wax has been launched by a consortium of palm oil stakeholders and exhibited at Indonesian textile event INACRAFT in February.
The wax uses hydrogenated palm stearin (HPS) as a raw material, with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) working in collaboration with Forum Pengembangan Kampoeng Batik Laweyan (FPKBL) to create a batik formula using sustainable palm oil derivatives since 2022.
The initiative was aimed at establishing sustainable batik wax as a flagship product, blending Indonesia’s cultural heritage with sustainable practices implemented by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the RSPO said on 19 February.
RSPO deputy director of market transformation Dr M Windrawan Inantha said it was hoped the project would act as a role model for other industries to adopt sustainable business practices, while also increasing public awareness of the benefits of sustainable palm oil-based products.
The HPS used in the batik was supplied by leading oil producer Apical, which also processes palm oil into consumer oleochemical and fuel products.
Other organisations involved in the batik project are conservation group WWF-Indonesia, Universitas Trisakti, consulting firm Daemeter and testing, inspection and certification company Control Union.
