As part of the ongoing efforts to promote green and sustainable batik in Pekalongan’s batik industry, we initiated several follow-up activities following the Pekalongan Batik Wastewater project. These activities focused on starting the building of a path to realizing the entry points generated from the project, primarily the Green Batik Pilot Project. We continued to engage local batik actors through continuous discussions and visits, with the 12 Green Batik Goals at the core of these efforts.
The 12 Green Batik Goals: A Framework for Sustainability
The 12 Green Batik Goals by The Water Agency
Having spent significant time working in Pekalongan, we see the need for an integrated approach to a more sustainable and “greener” Batik. To achieve this, we created the 12 Green Batik Goals, generated based on the current issues in Batik’s business and production value chain as an urgent call for action. With these goals, we aim to drive the transformation towards sustainable batik production and trade holistically. These goals cover key areas such as water and environment conservation, social and economic improvement, as well as entrepreneurship and market strengthening. Read more about the 12 Green Batik Goals here.
Green Batik Workshop: From Tradition to Innovation
On November 27, 2023, we organized the Green Batik Workshop: From Tradition to Innovation in Erasmus Huis, Jakarta, to start an integrated initiative towards Green Batik. The workshop brought together over 30 participants, including representatives from the government, NGOs, academics, the Dutch water sector, and batik communities from Pekalongan, Yogyakarta, and Bandung. The event served as a platform for discussing actions needed to make the batik production process more environmentally friendly and sustainable, with a strong focus on collaboration across various sectors.
Sneak peek of the Green Batik Forum in Erasmus Huis, Jakarta
The workshop included a presentation about the current issues in the batik industry and discussions centered around the 12 Green Batik Goals. Participants were divided into groups to discuss these goals, focusing on three main topics: water and environment, social and economic, and entrepreneurship and market. Each group outlined specific actions and identified potential stakeholders that could help achieve the goals, sparking lively discussions and new ideas. Through this workshop, an opportunity for change has been opened, and we hope that the collaboration will grow larger and stronger.
Ongoing Engagement with Pekalongan Batik Stakeholders
In building the commitment towards Green Batik in Pekalongan, we have maintained continuous engagements with the local governments and batik actors to understand the dynamics and progress beyond the Pekalongan Batik Wastewater project. In addition to regular, informal visits to the city, we also attended the Batik Day celebration at INACRAFT 2023—Indonesia’s largest annual handicraft exhibition in Jakarta, which showcased Pekalongan Batik as its main icon in 2023. During the event, we visited several Pekalongan Batik booths and shops, exchanging updates and fostering ongoing collaboration to support the sustainable future of the batik industry.
(from left to right) Pekalongan Batik as the main icon in INACRAFT 2023; Visiting one of the Pekalongan Batik booths in INACRAFT 2023
As these efforts move forward, the commitment to sustainable batik will continue to drive positive change, ensuring that Pekalongan’s batik industry can grow sustainably while preserving its cultural heritage. Stay tuned to our upcoming updates on Pekalongan Green Batik!
