PALMOILMAGAZINE, BOGOR – What was once dismissed as palm oil waste has now been transformed into a high-value product. Three physics students from IPB University have demonstrated that oil palm trunks (OPT) and empty fruit bunches (EFB) are more than just production residue—they can be the raw materials of the future.
Their creation, TrunkTone, an innovative sound-absorbing material, won both First Prize and Best Presentation at the prestigious International Oil Palm Trunk Product Design Competition 2025. The competition, held at the IPB International Convention Center on Tuesday (Aug 2, 2025), featured 39 teams from universities around the world.
The team—Annisa Nur Azahra, Pristy Tasya Nabila, and Salsabilla Permata Bayah—impressed the jury with their originality, market readiness, and breakthrough concept, under the guidance of Dr. Yessie Widya Sari.
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“We chose TrunkTone because of its originality, readiness for market application, and its groundbreaking nature,” said judge Faristama Aryasa, CEO of Katalis.co, as quoted by beige-heron-208544.hostingersite.com from Radar Bogor on Sunday (Sept 7, 2025). Prof. Agung Nugroho of Universitas Lambung Mangkurat added that TrunkTone stood out for its carefully developed design, which accounted for the unique physical properties of OPT and EFB.
The competition is part of SustainPalm, an Indonesia–Netherlands consortium that includes Wageningen University & Research, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, IPB University, and Universitas Lambung Mangkurat. The initiative aims to push the palm oil industry toward a more circular and environmentally friendly system.
The Indonesian government also expressed support. Lila Bahktiar, Director of Forest and Plantation-Based Industries at the Ministry of Industry, praised TrunkTone as tangible proof that palm oil waste can be turned into a high-value product. “This product has great potential for commercialization in the near future. Congratulations and success to TrunkTone,” she said.
Beyond the concept stage, TrunkTone has already undergone testing. Results showed it can reduce sound transmission by up to 13 dB, with an absorption coefficient of 0.8—meeting national acoustic insulation standards. With this performance, TrunkTone has strong potential to enter the building materials market, while also addressing demand for eco-friendly products.
IPB students’ achievements did not stop there. Another innovation came from students Shakila Agustin and Abimanyu Pratama, who reached the finals with Palmlight—a bedside lamp made from palm trunks.
These successes highlight the creativity of Indonesia’s younger generation in turning challenges into opportunities. From waste once seen as a problem, they are creating products that promise a greener, more sustainable future. (P2)
