CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Plastic products have been a basic need as part in our daily life. Products such

as shopping bags, PET bottles, wrapping materials, household materials, and even

construction materials. Plastic are carbon-based polymers and are made mostly from

petroleum which makes the plastic products durable and causes to take hundreds if not

thousands of years to degrade completely. These plastics are the cause of pollution that

is killing our environment. The move towards a cleaner environment is rapidly

skyrocketing in hopes of averting the emerging environmental issues we are

experiencing today. Therefore, this study aims to develop edible and biodegradable

products to help reduce the environmental issues we are facing by using renewable bio-

resource such as seaweed (eucheuma cottonii).

This idea came from an Indonesian national who thinks seaweed can be the

game-changer in our plastic problem. The product is basically made out of seaweed

and can be turned as a substitute of plastics, be it as a wrapper, grocery bags, sachet

and many more. Philippines is an archipelagic country surrounded by bodies of water,

which makes the seaweed a sustainable and cheap substitute. Thus, we introduce to

you “Eat the Wrapper”. This product is basically in the form of edible wrappers, sachets,

and party utensils. There will be no rubbish after using it as it can be eaten and it comes

with varieties of flavors too. Seaweed based on studies is so far the best candidate for
bioplastics compared to commonly used materials to produce bioplastics like corn,

starch and vegetable roots because these materials has raised some concerns such as

huge investment for land, fertilizers and chemicals. Unlike seaweed, it can grow without

fertilizers and is cheap. It can grow extremely fast at very large quantities. Utilization of

seaweed have become the interest in some countries in the world, from biofuel to

cosmetics and food to pharmaceuticals. One organism of seaweed is chosen to be one

ingredient for the production of bioplastic which is red algae of the species Red

Eucheuma Seaweed. Compared to other seaweed, Red Euncheuma Seaweed is more

feasible to produce bioplastic. This is because plastic is a polymer and red algae

consists of protein chains that are also one type of natural polymer that can be

processed to produce plastic.

The product might be slightly costly compared to plastics but technology might

help in reducing costs for it to soon completely replace single-use plastics. Besides,

people are becoming more aware on the environment thus they are likely to patronize

the product. Filipinos being social media savvy will sure amplify the effect of gaining

product’s acceptance in the market.