Community Empowerment through SERUNI: Utilization of Used Coffee Grounds and Tea Residues for Innovative Diffuser Production in Gonoharjo Village

Abstract

This community empowerment program aimed to optimize household organic waste management in Gonoharjo Village, Kendal Regency, through the SERUNI (Semerbak Ruangan Unik dan Inovatif) initiative, which transforms used coffee grounds and tea residues into innovative fragrance diffusers. Implemented under the UNNES GIAT 16 scheme, the study involved community residents, primarily housewives (56.25%), from Gono Timur and Gono Barat Hamlets. The intervention followed a six-stage methodology consisting of a pre-test, educational presentations on organic waste management, expert demonstrations, hands-on production practice, a post-test, and an evaluation session. Participants formulated diffusers using a ratio of 70% fragrance material (coffee/tea residue extract), 10% ethanol (96%), 15% propylene glycol, and 5% coconut oil. Quantitative evaluation demonstrated high participant knowledge post-program, with 100% of responses answered correctly on the knowledge assessment. Furthermore, 92.3% of participants expressed high satisfaction with the training, 61.5% indicated strong interest in replicating the diffuser-making process at home, and 69.2% were willing to recommend the program to others. Qualitative testimonials reinforced these findings, highlighting the practical, environmental, and economic potential of the initiative. Based on these findings, it is recommended that local stakeholders expand this program through advanced aroma variation, enhanced packaging design, and targeted marketing strategies to foster small-scale eco-friendly entrepreneurship.