ABSTRACT

This study entitled “Musa Sapientum (Banana bark) As an Organic Material for making
paper “, examines the potential of banana bark as an alternative paper. A paper is a versatile
material with many uses, such as writing, printing, packaging, and decorating. Papers are also
essentially used in legal or non-legal documentation. However, the production and use of it has a
number of adverse effects on our environment. According to
https://www.ecology.com/2011/09/10/paper-chase/ (Ecology Global Network), "Consumption of
paper has grown 400 percent in the last 40 years. Nearly 4 billion trees or 35% of the total trees
cut around the world are used for paper." The paper which is we commonly use is made up of
woods, that causes the deforestation to be widely spread.
We choose the Banana bark as our main raw material because, it is one of the useful
commodities that live in a short time, and also, it is easy to be cultivated and can be harvested
along the year. As our country the Philippines, is one of the countries who export banana to other
countries, then it will be easy for us the researchers to find banana tree. The most widely used
part of banana is the flesh of the fruit, meanwhile, the outer skin or the bark which contains
fibers, is only used for animal feed and organic fertilizer. We aim to save the environment by
reducing size of cutting trees by using the banana bark as an alternative since it is a fast-growing
plant. This study specifically seeks to answer its feasibility as an alternative paper, its cost
efficiency, and strength to compare if it has significant difference to the other commercial
product.
The researchers gather the banana bark, then we slice them within half an inch and boils
it for about an hour. When the bark turns brown, it is ready to be crushed in the blender. After
that, the researchers put the bark slurry into the screen and dry it in a tray.
The purpose of this study is to help the farmers who want to make use of the excess waste
of banana tree which is the bark, and also to help those students especially in the rural areas, who
cannot afford to buy papers.