The Indonesian Ministry of Industry is urging the textile sector to employ air quality monitoring devices to cut harmful gas emissions, especially sulfur dioxide (SOx), in the production of semi-synthetic viscose and rayon fabrics from wood pulp.
The Indonesian Ministry of Industry has issued a strong call to action to the textile industry. It has urged it to adopt air quality monitoring devices to reduce harmful gas emissions, particularly sulfur dioxide . Particular, the production process releases sulfur dioxide when creating synthetic viscose and rayon fabrics made from wood pulp.
Urgent Call to Control Harmful Gas Emissions in Textile Sector
This call to action is based on Circular Letter Number 2 of 2023 from the Ministry of Industry, which emphasizes the vital importance of regulating and reducing dangerous gas emissions within the textile sector.
Eko S. A. Cahyanto, the Ministry’s Director General of Resilience, Regional, and International Industrial Access (KPAII), stressed this critical step in an official statement released on Wednesday. He explained, “Companies in this sector are required to install Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS) to closely monitor their exhaust emissions.”
Industry Pioneers Set the Standard for Viscose
To support this initiative, Cahyanto’s team conducted site visits to PT Indo Bharat Rayon and PT South Pacific Viscose. These are two industry leaders already using CEMS and pollution control equipment like Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs) in their manufacturing facilities. The results of these visits confirmed that both companies met the exceeded environmental quality standards. These emission tests were carried out with the Adaptive Monitoring System (AiMS) at PT Indo Bharat Rayon.
As a result, the ministry is drafting a comprehensive industry regulation to establish green standards for the rayon industry. This regulation will apply to all rayon manufacturers in Indonesia, ensuring strict adherence to environmental norms and standards.
Green Industry Standards on the Horizon
Cahyanto reiterated the government’s proactive approach to environmental preservation. He highlighed that controlling exhaust gas emissions in the viscose rayon industry is a key government action. The Ministry of Industry will continue to monitor these industries to ensure compliance with regulations. It aims to maintain a favorable business environment and enhance the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector in Indonesia.
