After three months of development, brainstorming, and refining their concept, Enactus-UPEI—a student-led club promoting sustainable entrepreneurship—has successfully launched Spuds2Suds, a potato-based soap product.
In February, the team earned top honours at the Enactus Regionals event in Halifax, a prestigious competition featuring educational institutions from across Atlantic Canada. Enactus-UPEI won first place in its league for the Canadian Tire Environmental Sustainability Challenge and second place in the Innovation and Impact Challenge.
The project began with a goal: to create a product that was profitable, sustainable, and scalable while addressing a local issue. To understand community needs, the team consulted local farmers to assess the extent of potato waste and conducted research using PEI government resources for data validation.
© University of Prince Edward IslandMaggie McNeil and Samuel Harding, co-presidents of Enactus-UPEI
A key insight came during a visit to a local food bank, where a volunteer revealed that hygiene products are among the most needed yet least donated items. With many team members connected to rural communities and farming, they identified an opportunity to tackle two problems at once—food waste and access to hygiene products.
The resulting potato soap is made by blending unharvested potatoes into a smooth liquid and combining it with a soap base, hydrating oils, and essential oils. The potato starch, rich in vitamins and minerals, is the key ingredient, known for supporting collagen production. The mixture is then molded and left to solidify into bars of soap.
"Our project is dedicated to tackling environmental challenges while supporting our community," said Samuel Harding, co-president of Enactus-UPEI. "We achieve this by upcycling potatoes that would otherwise go to waste, transforming them into soap. For every bar sold, we donate one to the local food bank, ensuring that our efforts give back in meaningful ways."
Spuds2Suds is currently available for purchase at the UPEI Bookstore and Riverview Country Market in Charlottetown. The Enactus-UPEI team, composed entirely of student volunteers, operates as a non-profit initiative. Looking ahead, they plan to expand the project by developing additional potato-based hygiene products, including a deodorant.
Following their success at regionals, the team will represent UPEI at the 2024–2025 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Calgary, Alberta, from May 6 to 8, 2025.
For more information:
Melanie Taylor
University of Prince Edward Island
Tel: +1 902 620 5117
Email: meltaylor@upei.ca
www.upei.ca