ITS Campus, September 2025 — Showcasing a strong commitment to sustainable innovation, three students from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) have successfully developed an eco-friendly biodegradable food packaging made from Hong Kong mealworm chitosan and corn cob waste. Their innovation, named Chitocorn, led the Ulat Podium Team to secure 2nd Place at the Chemical Engineering Entrepreneurship Festival (CHEEF) 2025, organized by the Chemical Engineering Division of the Indonesian Engineers Association (BKKPII) at Universitas Indonesia (UI) on Thursday (25/9).
The Ulat Podium Team consists of Ussryl Septhania Putri, Labiba Nareswari Suprapto, and Amarra Kamila Lestari, under the supervision of Hakun Wirawasista Aparamarta, S.T., M.MT., Ph.D.. This achievement adds to the growing list of ITS student accomplishments in developing environmentally conscious solutions, aligned with the university’s focus on sustainability and green technology initiatives.
Chitocorn is designed as an innovative biodegradable laminated paper that is resistant to both water and oil. Its coating material is derived from chitosan extracted from Hong Kong mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), while the base substrate uses bioplastic made from corn cob starch. This combination produces a strong, food-safe, and environmentally degradable packaging material.
Beyond its mechanical advantages, Chitocorn also emphasizes halal standards and food safety, as it is produced without alcohol-based plasticizers—making it safe and acceptable for broader segments of society.
CHEEF 2025 serves as a major platform for chemical engineering entrepreneurship, focusing on science-based business innovations and sustainable solutions. The competition aims to foster a strong technopreneurial ecosystem among students and strengthen collaboration between academic institutions.
With this achievement, the Ulat Podium Team demonstrates that effective solutions to global plastic waste challenges can begin with smart and practical innovations developed at the local level.
Campus, ITS News – The Chemical Engineering Student Association (HIMATEKK) of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has once again
Campus, ITS News – The Social Development Department through the Chemical Engineering Student Association (HIMATEKK) of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh