InfoSAWIT, SOLO — Innovations in environmentally friendly batik production are now attracting international attention. Five creative industry players from Malaysia participated in a two-day batik workshop (July 28-29, 2025) at Kampoeng Batik Laweyan, Solo. This event was organized by the Forum for the Development of Kampoeng Batik Laweyan (FPKBL) with support from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), introducing palm wax—batik wax based on sustainable palm oil stearin.
This workshop is an important step in fostering cross-country cooperation while demonstrating the growing interest in environmentally friendly materials outside Indonesia. Participants received hands-on training from batik artisans in Laweyan, along with in-depth explanations about the advantages of palm wax, from technical, environmental, and supply chain sustainability perspectives. This product has been developed since 2022 as an alternative to petroleum-based wax commonly used in traditional batik processes.
FPKBL Chair Alpha Febela Priyatmono stated that the presence of participants from Malaysia signifies that the batik industry is moving in a new direction.
“Their presence shows that the batik industry is becoming more collaborative and forward-looking. This workshop is not just about sharing skills, but also connecting two creative ecosystems that learn from and strengthen each other. RSPO helps bridge this cross-sector cooperation,” he said in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Friday (August 1, 2025).
A similar sentiment was expressed by RSPO Indonesia's Deputy Director of Market Transformation, M Windrawan Inantha, who mentioned that this workshop is the beginning of expanding the use of palm wax abroad.
“This is not a one-way promotion. We want to learn together, see the potential for adoption or further development by the batik and textile communities in Malaysia. We are also exploring similar collaborations in other ASEAN countries like Thailand,” he said.
In addition to introducing new raw material innovations, this activity also shows that creative industry players are beginning to open up to the use of palm oil-based materials, as long as they are processed responsibly and verified. FPKBL is currently in the process of obtaining RSPO certification as a full commitment to sustainability principles throughout its production chain.
With the successful holding of this workshop, palm wax batik is no longer just a local experiment but has become part of a regional movement towards a greener, more collaborative, and value-oriented creative industry. (T2)
