UNS — Five students of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta create natural paper soap to help solve the problem that arises due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The Team consisted of Letisia Nur Safitriyani, Fitria Nur Hidayah, and Inez Damayanti from the Agrobusiness Study Program, alongside Ulfa Nida Arfianti from Chemistry Education Study Program and Elvina Emalia from Agrotechnology Study Program, participates in the Student Creativity Program in Entrepreneurship (PMK-K) Faculty of Agriculture (FP) UNS.
When contacted by uns.ac.id team, Letisia, as the Team Leader, explains that paper soap is one of the innovations for the problems that arose during the Covid-19 pandemic. In line with the Government’s program that encourages the public to follow health protocol, the Team considers paper soap an adaptation media for the New Normal era. “The soap is practical to carry everywhere compared to solid and liquid soaps,” explains Letisia.
With this innovation, people can wash their hands everywhere without the hassle of bringing solid and liquid soaps. This objective corresponds with the government appeal known as ‘Pesan Ibu’ (Mom’s Message). ‘Pesan Ibu’ suggests wearing masks, washing hands, keeping distance, avoiding crowds, and reducing mobility.
Supervised by Dr. Erlyna Wida Riptanti, S.P., M.P., the PMK-K FP Team introduces their soap as PEP Soap, an abbreviation for Practical Education Paper Soap. PEP Soap is produced with natural ingredients, which are safe for health and skin, such as noni, kaffir lime, and betel leaf. Noni fruits (Morinda citrifolia) contains alkaloid and flavonoid that acts as antibacterial. While kaffir lime contains essential oils that can produce a fragrant aroma. The essential oils in kaffir lime contain pinene and citronellal that serve as antibacterial agents. While betel leaf acts as natural antiseptics.
Other than its natural ingredients, PEP Soap has also become education media for Covid-19. The students purposively include a QR Code in each PEP Soap packaging. The QR Code can be scanned to connects users to a blog that contains various information regarding Covid-19. This effort aims to keep people away from wrong information or hoaxes. The soap has been distributed to the market since July 2021. The product is distributed through online media, such as Instagram, Shopee, WhatsApp, and offline channels through the Cash on Delivery (COD) and consigned system.
“Hopefully, this innovation can be an alternative for practical soap usage in the New Normal era to maintain compliance to health protocol. We also hope to educate the general public on information regarding Covid-19 using valid information and data. We wish to earn support from various parties in achieving this PKM program and contribute to the community, institution, and the country,” Letisia concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Alinda Hardiantoro
Editor: Dwi Hastuti