Green Fashion Sawit: Environmental-Friendly Fashion Product Innovation from IPB University
At the research results launching that was organized by the Directorate of Research and Innovation (DRI), IPB University has yet once again introduced its latest innovation called Green Fashion Sawit. This innovation is a result of the collaboration between IPB University and the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS).
According to Dr Siti Nikmatin, the innovator of Green Fashion Sawit, future fashion is not merely based on, and goes beyond natural fiber, like cotton and synthetic polymer fiber. Instead, it is based on palm biomass which produces threads and fabrics for creative fashion industry applications.
"The climate of the local and imported fashion industry is highly dynamic and competitive. The competition is not only about the price, rather, it is also about organic or synthetic raw materials that are in line with comfort when being worn," she added during the launch at the IPB International Convention Center (IICC), Bogor (27/6).”
Dr Siti stated that the creative fashion industry plays an important role in the national economy. The fashion world in Indonesia continues to evolve alongside the strong flow of information technology and e-commerce. This development is supported by the increasing number of young and productive population each year, with a high purchasing power for beautiful and trendy fashion needs.
"The Green Fashion Sawit innovation is an excellent innovation that provides benefits for change, offers solutions to cotton imports, enhances competitiveness, increases the added value of palm products and their derivatives with commercial value," explained Dr Siti Nikmatin.
Adding to that, she explained that palm oil is considered one of the commodities that holds an important and strategic role. Research innovation in the utilization and processing of palm oil plantations with technology is necessary to ensure sustainability and enhance product diversification through palm economic activities with competitive advantages through innovation-based economic transformation.
Empty palm oil bunches (TKKS) is a biomass whose presence continues to increase linearly along with the production of crude palm oil (CPO) and the human demand for vegetable oil. Through research funded by BPDPKS in 2021-2022, this palm biomass is transformed into high-value biomaterials in the fashion industry, such as viscose staple fibers, twisted yarn, fabric, and creative industrial products. This represents a novelty or innovation in terms of non-cotton organic biomass raw materials in fashion.
"The advantage of Green Fashion Sawit lies in its mechanical, optical, and thermal properties, referring to the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) for textiles. This innovation is also environmentally friendly and produces low-emission since the raw material used is palm biomass produced without chemicals, while also having economic value and competitive prices in the market," he said.
With that being the case, he mentioned that Green Fashion Sawit has great opportunities for development. Dr Siti stated her readiness to collaborate with the industry to expand the research innovation from universities and get bigger, thus providing benefits on a broader scope. (*/Rz) (IAAS/ZRT)
