PALMOILMAGAZINE, MENDALO — Who would have thought that palm oil waste—often dismissed as worthless—could be transformed into transparent solid soap with a distinctive scent and strong market potential? That’s exactly what 60 Agribusiness students from the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Jambi (UNJA), explored in an innovative workshop held last Tuesday.
The workshop was a result of a collaboration between UNJA, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), and the Plantation Fund Management Agency (PFMA or BPDP). Held at the Agribusiness Lab at UNJA, the event gave students hands-on experience in creative waste utilization, encouraging them to see palm waste not as a burden but as a business opportunity.
One of the workshop’s main focuses was the use of low-grade palm kernel shells, a type of waste commonly found around palm oil mills. While high-quality shells are exported as biofuel, the lower-quality ones are often discarded or used for paving roads.
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But for Dr. Uce Lestari, a researcher and lecturer from Universitas Sebelas Maret and the main speaker at the event, this “low-value” waste holds enormous potential. Between 2016 and 2021, she conducted research on converting these shells into activated charcoal, and eventually into cosmetic products, such as transparent solid soap.
“Through this workshop, I want to show that things we often consider useless can actually be transformed into high-value products,” Dr. Uce told Palmoilmagazine.com, as quoted from UNJA’s official site on Sunday, June 29, 2025.
For Dr. Nuning Setyowati, Head Organizer from UNJA’s Faculty of Agriculture, the event was more than just an academic session—it was a strategy to nurture youth entrepreneurship through local innovation. Given Jambi’s vast palm plantations, she sees enormous potential in repurposing waste into signature local products.
“Our goal is to shift student mindsets—seeing palm waste not as residue, but as a renewable resource. We hope this charcoal soap can become a local product icon of Jambi,” said Dr. Nuning.
Throughout the training, students not only learned the soap-making process but also gained insights on value addition, marketing strategies, and eco-friendly packaging for waste-based products.
In an industry often criticized for its environmental impact, this initiative offers a fresh, solution-driven narrative. It shows that sustainability can begin in simple campus labs, through small ideas with the potential for big impact.
“The palm oil sector continues to face waste management challenges. That’s why innovations like this are essential to move the industry toward more eco-friendly practices,” Dr. Uce emphasized.
She also encouraged students to go further in exploring palm waste potential. Beyond kernel shells, other byproducts like fronds, flowers, sticks, empty fruit bunches, and even crude palm oil can be repurposed into crafts, cosmetics, or bio-based goods.
The workshop is part of a broader push to implement a circular economy in the palm oil sector—where no waste goes to waste, but is instead turned into new, valuable products. It reflects a balance between economic growth and environmental responsibility.
For the students, it was an eye-opening experience. “I had no idea you could make soap from palm shells, and it’s actually not that hard to do,” said Rina, one of the participants, excitedly working at the hands-on demo table.
With more initiatives like this, the dream of making palm oil not only economically powerful but also environmentally responsible is becoming a reality. And universities like UNJA are proving to be the fertile ground where that transformation begins. (P2)
