InfoSAWIT, MENDALO – Who would have thought that palm oil waste, often deemed worthless, could be transformed into a transparent, aromatic solid soap with market potential? This is what 60 students from the Agribusiness Faculty of Jambi University (UNJA) learned during an innovative workshop held last Tuesday.
The event was made possible through a collaboration between UNJA's Faculty of Agriculture, the Faculty of Agriculture at Sebelas Maret University, and the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP). Held at the Basic Laboratory of the Agribusiness Study Program at UNJA, the workshop provided a platform for students to hone their creativity, viewing waste not as a burden but as an opportunity.
One of the main focuses of the workshop was the utilization of low-quality palm kernel shells — a type of waste that often accumulates around palm oil mills. While high-quality shells can be exported as energy fuel, those that do not meet export standards are often used merely as road fillers or left to pile up.
However, Dr. Uce Lestari, a researcher and lecturer from Sebelas Maret University and the main speaker, believes that this type of waste holds significant potential. She has conducted research from 2016 to 2021 on processing palm kernel shells into activated charcoal, which can further be used in cosmetic products, such as transparent solid soap.
"Through this training, I want to demonstrate that something seemingly useless can be transformed into a premium product with high market value," Dr. Uce stated, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from UNJA's official website on Sunday, June 29, 2025.
According to Dr. Nuning Setyowati, the event organizer from UNJA's Faculty of Agriculture, this training is not just an academic agenda but part of a strategy to create young entrepreneurs based on local innovation. With the abundance of palm oil plantations in Jambi, the potential to convert waste into new products is vast.
"Our goal is for students to see palm oil waste not just as residue but as a new resource that can be developed into a distinctive Jambi product. We hope that this activated charcoal soap can become one of the local product icons," Dr. Nuning remarked.
During the training session, students not only learned the technical aspects of soap making but also gained insights into value addition, marketing strategies, and packaging for waste-based products.
In the context of the national palm oil industry, which often faces criticism regarding environmental issues and waste, this training offers an alternative narrative. Sustainability can begin on campus, in simple laboratories, with small ideas that can have a significant impact.
"The palm oil sector still faces ongoing challenges with production waste. Innovations like this are crucial for the industry to operate in a more environmentally friendly manner," Dr. Uce emphasized.
She also encouraged students to be more exploratory. According to her, besides palm kernel shells, there are many other types of waste, such as fronds, palm flowers, empty bunches, and even crude palm oil, that can be processed into other creative products — ranging from handicrafts to beauty materials.
This workshop is part of efforts to realize a circular economy in the palm oil sector, where no waste is truly discarded but transformed into new, valuable products. This approach is believed to be a middle ground between economic growth and environmental preservation.
For the students, this training opened their eyes. "I just learned that soap can be made from palm kernel shells, and the process isn't too complicated," said Rina, one enthusiastic participant eager to try it herself at the practice table.
With more innovations like this, the hope of making palm oil a commodity that is not only economically robust but also environmentally friendly is becoming increasingly tangible. And campuses like Jambi University can serve as the starting point for this transformation. (T2)
