Charcoal has been considered a source of fuel for many Filipino people especially in the

rural areas. According to a survey by the Central Echo (2011), more than 90% of Filipinos are
dependent on charcoal for cooking. While only 1-2% use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or
kerosene due to high cost of living. However, making charcoal means cutting trees. As a result,
only species of trees that do not burn well are left in our forests. Therefore, there is a compelling
need to find alternative fuel sources and new methods that can minimize the need for charcoal.
Paper is the major contributor of solid waste by either weight or volume. Yet it is highly
recyclable and can be manufactured into some other materials. Thus, paper charcoal was
introduced as an alternative for charcoal. Also, it will not destroy our forests and ravage mother
earth but instead, this will help minimize solid waste and reduce forest denudation due to
charcoal making.
Paper charcoals are made by soaking papers overnight and forming it into fist size balls
which are left to dry in the sun. Paper charcoals serves as a good alternative fuel for cooking.
Encouraging the use of paper charcoal as an alternative for fuel is good practice. Waste papers
would otherwise end up in landfills are given new use as cooking medium. This will also help
reduce dependence on forest wood for cooking. It does not produce soot like ordinary charcoals.
Paper charcoal may function differently that charcoal but it is very resourceful and eco-friendly.
Everyone knows how important food consumption is to an individual. Without food, one
may get totally insane and may revert to destroying people’s lives, including their own. As our
country continue to battle with the worsening poverty problems and non-stop increase in oil and
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fuel prices, many Filipino today rely on wood charcoal for cooking to save money.

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