Greening Batik Industries in Malaysia
By Shaliza Ibrahim Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences , Universiti Malaya
Choong Choe Earn Formerly at Department of Civil Engineering , Universiti Malaya
FEATURE
Traditional batik making
Greening batik industries in Malaysia is attainable through the adoption of Cleaner Production ( CP ) methods which provide options for reduction in material and energy usage , resource recovery , and good housekeeping practices . Such an approach was successfully implemented in a small scale home-based premise . Batik manufacturers are receptive to the concept of greening their industry , but need support in various forms , in order to sustain the good practices . Cost effective wastewater treatment systems and implementation of standard operating procedures can impactfully transform batik manufacturing into a more sustainable industry .
Batik is the traditional art of hand-painted or block-printed fabric which is popular particularly in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia . The majority of batik making factories are located in Kelantan and Terengganu . Over the last 50 years batik has grown to become an important cottage industry in Malaysia , contributing significantly to the country ’ s economy . Batik is widely done at home as cottage or rural industries . There are also a number of larger enterprises operating as Small and Medium Industries ( SMIs ).
Typical of textile industries , batik making uses large quantities of water and a wide range of organic and inorganic chemical compounds . The batik wastewater has a high pH , Biochemical
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