Appearance is important. However, appearance without paying attention to health is something that must be addressed. The use of clothes lubricant products that use synthetic chemicals is bad for the skin and breathing. This is an issue that public does not pay attention to.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (2013), there are more than 16,000 clothes lubricant products containing a dangerous chemical called Quaternary Ammonium Compound (QCA) which functions as an anti-wrinkle solution. This solution is known to cause skin irritation and disruption of breathing, especially in people with asthma. In addition, the body’s exposure to formaldehyde, which is also contained in clothes lubricating products as a preservative, can cause cancer.
“Not many people know that clothes lubricant products in the market use synthetic chemicals which have many adverse health effects. Not to mention that the laundry business is widely spread now, ”said one of the Gumpita team.
This motivated five students of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences to solve this problem. Chaired by Izzah Linatul Khariroh together with Gumpita Windy Distiyanti, Wulan Nur Umi Hani’ah, Rohmatul Azijah and Brenda Salsabillah under the guidance of lecturer Muhammad Fakhri, SPi., MP., M. Sc., Found an innovation called KITOSPRAY.
KITOSPRAY is an innovative anti-microbial chitosan clothes lubricant as a substitute for Quaternary Ammonium Compound (QCA). This product is a crustacean carapace-based clothes lubricant. The content of chitosan extracted from crustacean carapace is known to replace the synthetic chemical Quaternary Ammonium Compound (QCA) in clothes lubricant products. The flavonoids contained in orange peel are also used as a natural preservative that is environmentally friendly and can play a role in replacing formaldehyde.
KITOSPRAY is packaged in two variations of 300 ml packaging for spray bottles at a price of IDR 14,000 per bottle and a size of 500 ml for refill packs at IDR 23,000 per bottle.
The plan for the next stage that the KITOSPRAY team will work with a number of business players with crustaceans and oranges raw materials as well as laundry business players. In addition, online sales by utilizing e-commerce to reach a wider market will also be carried out.
“With the innovation of KITOSPRAY clothes lubricant, it can overcome the problem of side effects from using synthetic chemicals in clothes lubricant products. In addition, the raw materials used to make KITOSPRAY are obtained from the remaining raw materials of our partners so that it is more environmentally friendly, ”added Gumpita.
KITOSPRAY can be found in marketplace and social media. [Gumpita / VQ/ Humas UB/ Trans. Iir]
