Natura Community develops ecoprint to boost Gorontalo's green economy
Gorontalo (ANTARA) - The Natura (Nantu Tahura) youth community in Gorontalo Province is developing ecoprint products made from natural materials to boost the creative economy while campaigning for environmental conservation through the use of eco-friendly raw materials and dyes.
Indira Lomban, ecoprint manager at the Natura Community, said on Tuesday that ecoprint is still relatively new in the region. Currently, there are only two groups producing ecoprint in Gorontalo, so the products are beginning to gain recognition among the public, particularly young people interested in environmentally friendly goods.
“Apart from being an eco-friendly fashion product, ecoprint also serves as an educational tool and a campaign to encourage young people to care more about the environment,” she said.
She explained that all ecoprint products are made using cotton and silk fabrics, while the dyes come from natural ingredients such as sappanwood, tingi, tinger, and various other plants, making the production process more environmentally friendly compared to synthetic dyes.
According to Indira, the development of ecoprint is also part of a campaign to reduce the impact of textile waste from the fashion industry, as well as to introduce the Nantu Forest as an area of biodiversity that is a natural asset of Gorontalo Province.
“One of the distinctive features of our ecoprint is the use of leaves from the Nantu Forest as motifs. We introduce every buyer to the Nantu Forest in Gorontalo Regency so that more people understand the importance of preserving the area,” she said.
She said public interest in ecoprint products has continued to increase since the Natura Community participated in various exhibitions. A number of printing businesses, boutiques, and karawo craftsmen have also begun exploring cooperation to develop ecoprint products in Gorontalo.
Currently, the Natura Community produces ecoprint fabric by the metre, t-shirts, scarves, and tote bags. However, the community has not yet set a production target as it is still focusing on environmental campaigns, although it has started receiving a number of cooperation requests.
“We are not yet chasing sales targets, but in the future we will be more serious about developing production because there are already requests for cooperation,” she said.
She said a piece of ecoprint fabric is marketed for around Rp500,000, depending on the motif, the complexity of the production process, and the quality of the final product.
The Natura Community’s ecoprint products have been marketed through various exhibitions, including the 2026 National Farmers and Fishermen’s Week (PENAS) in Gorontalo. At the event, their products were purchased by contingents from Aceh, Makassar, Papua, and several other regions.
In addition to participating in MSME exhibitions, the Natura Community also provides ecoprint training and workshops at various events, including Green Action Day, Orang Muda Gorontalo Kreatif (OMG Creative), Hirameya Desa Kota Festival, Nantu and Tahura Water Conservation Festival, Raksaloka Festival, International Bird Day commemoration, and eco-parenting training based on environmentally friendly households.