Detergent is a commonly used product by people to clean clothes, shoes, and other items in their daily lives. However, did you know that synthetic/chemical detergents can pollute the environment?
The chemical contents in detergents can lead to the death of organisms in water, pollute ecosystems, and pose health risks to humans. Moreover, the use of synthetic detergents also contributes to the issue of plastic waste from detergent packaging.
Concerned about this problem, a group of UGM students developed an eco-friendly detergent from the bilimbi fruit called “Paper GenB.”
The innovation stemmed from the idea of Rizqa Irma Widayati (Chemistry), Pangestu Arum Pratiwi (Chemistry), Nadia Ramadhani (Chemistry), Aufa Nasywa Rahman (Information Technology), and Afix Vega Praditya (Information Technology), who are part of the UGM Student Creativity Program in Entrepreneurship.
“We are concerned about the environmental issues caused by the use of synthetic detergents. Therefore, we created an eco-friendly and biodegradable detergent, applying the principle of zero waste,” explained Rizqa Widayati.
Widayati stated that Paper GenB uses the bilimbi fruit as the base ingredient because it contains compounds that can be used as a natural, environmentally friendly detergent.
“The bilimbi fruit contains saponin compounds that can be utilized as a natural foaming agent in the detergent and is safe for the environment,” she clarified.
This product generates minimal foam as it’s made from natural ingredients. Therefore, it does not irritate the skin and doesn’t pollute aquatic ecosystems.
The product is developed in sheet form, with easily decomposable and recyclable packaging. Although packaged in sheet form, unlike regular liquid or powder detergents, this product dissolves easily in water and is proven effective for washing clothes.
It also has a QR code linked to the Paper GenB website for educational, communication, and purchase purposes.
“Paper GenB can be used for various types of washing, including manual washing, top-load washing machines, and front-load washing machines,” she added.
For those interested in this product, there’s no need to worry. Paper GenB is already available on several marketplaces, such as Shopee, Tokopedia, and the official website papergenb.com. A pack of Paper GenB containing 30 sheets is sold for Rp35,000,-.
Author: Ika
Images: The UGM Bilimbi Detergent Team