CUCURBITA MAXIMA DUCHESNE STARCH AS A COMPONENT IN PRODUCING BIOBASED POLYMER

Rationale
Philippines was ranked the 3rd top source of plastic leaking into oceans in a February 2015
study. Our country produces 2.7 million metric tons of plastic garbage each year, 20% or 521,000
tons of which ends up in the ocean. (Ranada, 2015)
Another problem is the massive number of plastic bags which Filipinos use, reuse and
eventually throw away. The bags with different colors are choking the life out of the cities.
This study will be designed to replace non-biodegradable materials using Cucurbita
maxima Duchesne starch as a component in producing bio-based polymers which can be
decomposed because of its natural compositions.
Cucurbita maxima, one of at least five species of cultivated squash, is one of the most
diverse domesticated species. This species originated in South America from the wild Cucurbita
andreanna over 4000 years ago. (Wikipedia)
Meanwhile, according to Kimura and Horikoshi, 2005, the interest in bio-based polymers
has increased recently, and manufacturers have been closely examining their applications. Fujitsu
is very interested in bio-based polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA), which is made from raw
plant materials, in its efforts to decrease oil consumption and the environmental burden.

The benefit of using Cucurbita maxima Dechesne is that it can be planted in our backyards
and we don't need to spend lots of money in cultivation and these bio-based products are healthy
and safe for the environment.