It cleans your hands - and the environment.

Starting this week students will be able to purchase EcoSuds, a student-produced, eco-friendly soap, in various Varsity Munchie Marts on campus.

The soap production coincides with the Vanderbilt Biodiesel Initiative, a movement headed by graduate student Derek Riley and WilSkills, an outdoor education program, which takes vegetable oil waste from dining facilities on and aroundcampus and converts it into biodiesel fuel to be used for campus vehicles. This enables student organizations like Wilskills to spend less money on fuel whileat the same time preserving the environment.

EcoSuds differs from standard soap as it is composed primarily of glycerin, a byproduct of biodiesel that gives the soap a smoother texture.

WilSkills participant, Adam Greenhall, a senior, explained the group wanted to make use of the waste the conversion created.

"Instead of just throwing (the glycerin) out like many people do when they make biodiesel,we wanted to turn it in to something useful," he said.

Last November,VBI worked with Vanderbilt Dining to have test dispensers installed in Featheringill bathrooms, hoping to eventually sell their product in Munchie Marts, so students could try out the soap and e-mail in any comments orconcerns they had about the product.

The majority of responses were positive, and most of the complaints expressed distaste for the color, which is an orange-brown, although some students said their hands did not feel clean after they used the soap.

EcoSuds will be offered in both its natural color and green and will be sold in 16 ounce bottles at the Branscomb Varsity Market, Common Grounds and Nectar for $5, plustax. The soap is mild and safe, and in addition to hand-washing, it can be used for laundry, cars and dishes.

The entire process is student-initiated and student-run, as WilSkills participants take part in the distributing, bottling and labeling of the soap.

EcoSuds co-chair Caroline Cheung, a senior, emphasized the student involvement with the program.

"Students started the biodiesel project," she said, "and they also control the soap production. It's all made here on campus, which is unique for Vanderbilt."

All of the profit made from EcoSuds will go toward the expansion of the biodiesel initiative in order to increase the use of biodiesel fuel on campus.

EcoSuds co-chair and senior Will Deacy said he thinks this is something simple the student body can do to help the environment.

"(Purchasing EcoSuds) is an easy way for an individual to take one more step to a more sustainable way of living," he said.

- Taylor Davis can be reached at taylor.c.davis@vanderbilt.edu