Chapter 1

Problem And its Background

Introduction

Each year humankind produces 300 million tons of plastic worldwide, half of which is

for single-use items. That is equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. Reducing

plastic use is the most effective means of avoiding this waste. That is why using paper bags and

packaging is highly recommended to reduce plastics. But that leads us to another problem again

because the main thing used to produce paper is trees. In fact, the planet loses three billion trees

every year for paper packaging production. This breaks down to 250,000,000 trees cut down

every month. About 14% of deforestation is done to satisfy our huge appetite for paper goods

(The tree urn). This amounts to the destruction of around 4.1 million hectares of forest each year

in the name of our paper obsession. This leads to the destruction of our ecosystem and natural

habitats, and the loss of biodiversity (Canopy planet, Nov.23 2021). The study aims to find an

alternative material to create sustainable paper packaging without using trees.

Paper packaging is widely used to transport and protect a wide range of products like

groceries, medicine, animal feed, and cement. It is a sustainable, reliable, and cost-efficient paper

product. Most paper packaging is produced by using trees. As an alternative this study aims to

produce paper packaging out of sargassum with water hyacinth bio-wax.

Sargassum is any of a genus of brown algae that have a leafy branching body and air

bladders and that often grow in free-floating masses in the ocean and seas. It is rich in different

nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fiber. It contains 13.09% fiber, that is why it is

1
good for paper making. It is a sustainable and eco-friendly material, as it avoids the use of trees.

In this study sargassum is associated with water hyacinth bio-wax as it gives hydrophobic effect

to the paper.

A water-hyacinth is a floating plant that has clusters of leaves with spongy stalks arising

from a base of dark purple feathery roots. It is likely to be nutritious because of the high protein

content and the content of unsaturated fats, carotenes, xanthophyll, starch, and minerals such as

iron, calcium, and phosphorus. As an aquatic plant, water hyacinth has a high initial moisture

content that reaches more than 90%. The present study concerns the sorption (absorption/

adsorption) of organic oils onto the dry biomass water hyacinth which has good hydrophobicity,

high uptake capacity, buoyancy, and biodegradability essential for oil sorption. It is commonly

found in ponds, rivers, and lakes of Canarem. This study aims to test the resistance of sargassum

paper packaging with water hyacinth bio wax.

The purpose of this study is finding sustainable alternative in paper making to avoid

using trees. In short, the paper packaging is 100% treeless. The main materials needed to conduct

this study are sargassum to produce the paper itself, and water hyacinth as a bio-wax for the

hydrophobic effect of the paper. The water hyacinth bio-wax is used to make the paper

packaging durable and reusable. The thickness of the paper, the compressive strength and the

porosity of the paper packaging will tell how durable it is. In terms of hydrophobicity, they will

be tested on how long it can resist and hold liquids. The effectiveness of the paper packaging

depends on its tensile strength and folding endurance. By the end of this study, the

characteristics, durability, and effectiveness will tell if there is significant difference between

sargassum paper packaging with water hyacinth bio-wax and regular paper.

2
 This study aims to test the resistance of sargassum paper packaging with water hyacinth

bio wax.

Statement Of the Problem

This study aims to test the effectiveness of sargassum paper packaging with water

hyacinth bio wax as an alternative paper packaging:

1. How does sargassum paper packaging with water hyacinth bio wax be described in terms of:

a. texture

b. thickness

2. How does the durability of sargassum paper packaging with water hyacinth bio wax

Be described in terms of:

a. water resistant

b. compressive strength

c. fold endurance

3. How effective is the water hyacinth bio wax to make the sargassum paper packaging

hydrophobic?

a. quality

b. efficiency

4. Is there a significant difference between sargassum paper with water hyacinth bio wax and

regular paper?

3
 a. characteristics

b. durability

c. effectiveness

Assumptions and Hypothesis

There is no significant difference between sargassum paper package with water hyacinth

bio-wax between regular paper packaging: in terms of its characteristics, durability, and

effectiveness of the sargassum paper packaging with water hyacinth bio-wax as an alternative

paper packaging.

Significance Of the Study

The importance of sargassum paper packaging's resistance to water hyacinth bio wax.

Sargassum seaweed is also used to make paper because it has a high cellulose content.

Paper packaging formed of sargassum seaweed is biodegradable and can be recycled, also used

for packaging and craft projects. This product is also a treeless paper packaging

Water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes):

Due to its carbohydrate and cellulose content, water hyacinth is used as a raw material for

biogas production. Bacteria will hydrolyze cellulose into glucose, producing biogas (methane

gas) as a result.

4
 In conclusion, sargassum paper packaging made from water hyacinth bio wax, also

known as treeless paper, performs and appears very much like regular paper and can be replaced

more quickly than trees while requiring less energy to process wood pulp.

Scope And Delimitation

The study was only focused on making a Sargassum paper packaging with water

hyacinth bio-wax. The main purpose of the researcher's study is to point out the fiber content of

water hyacinth for making the sargassum paper more hydrophobic. This study is also aimed to

compare the sargassum paper packaging with water hyacinth bio-wax and regular paper

packaging. The sargassum that will be used in the study was from Sitio Arosan in Bolinao in

Pangasinan and the water hyacinth that will be used in the study was from some place in

Victoria, Tarlac (Canarem).

The researcher will use two - group design in the study to determine the difference

between the sargassum paper packaging with water hyacinth bio wax and the regular paper

packaging.

The study will undergo specific tests such as compressive strength test, tensile

strength test, fold endurance test, porosity test. To determine how effective the sargassum paper

packaging with water hyacinth bio-wax.

Definition Of Terms

• Bio-wax – Is an improved more durable version of the traditional wax paste used in some paper

products.

5
● Compressive Strength – Dividing the maximum load by the surface area of the platen used by

the absolute moisture level present in the paper

● Durability – Durable enough to stand to certain amount of weight.

● Fiber Content - From the results of chemical analysis, water hyacinth fiber contains an

extremely high 62.15% cellulose content and a minimum amount (14.82%) of hemicellulose

content.

● Folding Endurance – Measure the durability of paper when repeatedly folded under constant

load.

● Hydrophobic – Paper has water repellency; the waterproof paper would be useful in various

fields. Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide that has many hydroxyl groups, paper shows

hydrophobicity.

• Sargassum – Is a genus of brown macroalgae in the order Fucale's.

● Tensile Strength – Temperature for test, minimum tensile strength was 19.90 MPa since it was

the minimum water hyacinth fiber-contained mixture.

● Thickness of paper – Jaws are then tightened and the distance between them is measured.

• Water Hyacinth – A tropical floating aquatic plant having spikes of large blue flowers.

6
 Chapter 2

Review of the Related Literature and Studies

The purpose of this chapter is to present the study and literature review. This chapter also

includes ideas, finished thesis, and past studies done by an expert and professional. Those are

included to help in familiarizing information that is relevant and similar to the study.

Related Literature

The purpose of this research is to make recycled paper packaging out of sargassum

seaweed and water hyacinth as an eco-friendly material that does not decompose over time. This

qualitative research will explore sargassum seaweed and water hyacinth as environmental

entrepreneurship by making recycled paper packaging as a source of livelihood.

Paper and cardboard are created throughout the papermaking process and used for

various tasks, including printing, writing, and packaging. Nowadays, industrial machinery is

7
used to produce all paper. Mechanized paper involves two main processes, the treatment of raw

materials and forming of paper sheets in the machine. The process of paper making is quite

different than before. About 2,000 years ago, they only used paper to record their writing and

drawings, and it was processed by mixing mulberry bark, hemp, and rags with water, mashing it

into pulp, pressing out the liquid, and hung the thin mat to dry in the sun. It was first made in

China by Ts’ai Lun (American Forest & Paper Association, 2021).

Paper was first made in Lei-Yang, China by Ts’ai Lun, a Chinese court official. To create

paper, Ts’ai Lun mixed mulberry bark, hemp, and rags with water. This time, paper is used for

crafting cloth sheets to record drawings and writings. However, because of modernization, paper

has different uses now, such as packaging, for school and office purposes, for designing, and

even for cleaning and sanitary. Paper is also used as an alternative for plastic bags. This is an

immense help especially when it comes to pollution, using paper bags is more sustainable and

can lessen pollution rather than using plastics. Recent studies (Deshwal, Panjagari, Alam, 2019)

have shown that “Pulp and paper industry is one of the major sectors in every country of the

globe contributing not only to Gross Domestic Product but surprisingly to environmental

pollution and health hazards”. Even though paper has benefits, it can also contribute to the

environment. Destruction like pollution and deforestation.

Paper Packaging

Based on Lindh, Williams, Olsson, Wikstrom (2015), and Dellis (2016) believe that the

packaging draws people attention to their lifestyle. It shows that paper packaging has a

significant role for humans. It is used as gift wrap, storage of foods, and even in buying goods in

8
the market. This shows that paper packaging became part of people’s daily life. In fact, paper

wrapping and packaging in the year 2021 contribute 55% of global paper consumption (Toner

Buzz, 2021). Every year, there is a sharp increase in the demand for packaging. More CO2

emissions are produced by today’s packaging than by all the world’s aviation combined since

most of it is composed of non-renewable resources like plastic. And only 10% of this packaging

is recycled; the remainder is burned, goes to a landfill, or even ends up as trash (Billerud, n.d).

Sargassum

The Portuguese sailors who discovered the sargassum in the Sargasso Sea gave it the

name “sargassum.” They named it “sargaço” (Portuguese for “woolly rock rose”) after the plant

that flourished in their home’s water wells. Sargassum Contains 46.59- 50.98% carbohydrate,

0.94-1.99% fat, 6.44-10.64% protein, 22.56-24.76% ash, and 16.19-19.64% water (Bioflux,

2019). Sargassum is a species of huge brown algae that never attaches to the ocean floor and

floats in island-like masses.

Water Hyacinth

The Pond Digger (n.d.) justified that for scientists, water hyacinth is considered as the

jewels of the pond not only because of their beauty in general but because they too serve an

important purpose in aiding its ecosystem which is in the pond. “Water hyacinth spread across

the surface of the water, filling it with color and vibrancy all the while keeping the pond and the

creatures in it safe and healthy. Besides being pleasing to the eye, water lilies do a great deal to

maintain the well-being of the ponds they inhabit. For one, they provide shade to keep the water

9
temperature down during the scorching summer months. By blocking out a lot of sunlight, the

water hyacinth helps to keep the algae growth down. Their shade also gives shelter to any fish

that may be in the pond, a respite from both the sun and any predators that may be lurking

nearby. They also absorb nutrients in the water that would normally feed these undesirable green

plants, keeping the water clear and clean looking.” The Pond Digger added.

Texture

Paper textures come in four varieties: smooth, embossed, uncoated, and coated. There are

numerous paper types for each texture type. It is a paper style created by running paper through

sets of rollers. The paper pulp is flattened repeatedly by rollers creating one ream of smooth

paper. The texture of paper packaging is important to attract people and to suit their perception.

Thickness

Although heavier and more expensive, thicker paper is more rigid and resilient. Higher

caliper paper is thicker, stiffer, but also more likely to curl and crack. (LinkedIn, 2023). The

people get a clear sense of the quality of the product based on the paper packaging’s thickness in

addition to how strong and durable they are. To measure the thickness of the paper packaging,

the researchers will use a caliper.

Fold Endurance

10
Shan-Shan Jin, Ying-Ping Qi, Yong-Feng Shen, Hua Li (2019) Paper relics are important

historical and cultural heritages. However, paper relics are at risk of ageing, damage, and

disappearance. To delay the aging of paper, improve the strength of paper. The results showed

the paper coated by the tensile strength was increased from 1105 to 3299 N/m, the folding

endurance was increased from 20 to 1024; and the paper can effectively maintain tensile

strength, delay folding resistance and tearing strength loss. These contains the initial tensile

strength and fold endurance

Efficiency

Ling Kong, Ali Hasanbeigi , Lynn Price (2016) discuss the efficiency of the paper. World

paper and some paper demand and the production of paper are increasing significantly. The goal

of material of efficiency to the paper grail to stimulate the paper area.

Foreign Studies

The latest research (El-Sayed, El-Sakhawy, Sakhawy, 2020) shows that using non-wood

material for papermaking is an important fiber resource, especially in areas where forest

resources are limited. Thus, using non-wood-based paper is more sustainable and eco-friendlier

than paper out wood materials. This kind of paper is helpful to avoid cutting down trees to satisfy

our huge appetite for p. According to Statista Research Department (2023), the production of

pulp from non-wood source of fibers stood at 11.4 million metric tons in 2021 globally. This non

wood pulp is commonly made from raw materials such as straw, bamboo, and sugarcane

bagasse.

11
 Beng and Lingqvist (2019) report about packaging accounted for half of the global paper

and paperboard market in 2018. Due to its eco-friendly hallmark, paper, and paperboard-based

materials are one of the oldest and most widely used packaging forms for goods such as milk and

milk-based products, beverages, dry powders, confectionaries, bakery products, etc. Beng and

Srinivasan (2014) even believe that the packaging can be “the game-changer”. However,

combatting climate change is a critical issue and a strategic priority today. Finding an alternative

non wood material for paper making is helpful right now because it is more sustainable and

ecofriendly. This product can be the game changer of today’s generation.

Local Studies

Texture:

There are four distinct types of paper textures: smooth, embossed, uncoated, and coated.

For each texture type, there are several types of paper. It is a type of paper made by passing

sheets of paper through a set of rollers. One ream of smooth paper is produced by repeatedly

flattening the paper pulp with rollers. Paper packaging’s texture is crucial for drawing attention

and influencing consumer perception.

Thickness:

Paper thickness is the separation between a sheet of paper’s two opposing surfaces; it is

typically expressed in thousandths of an inch or millimeters. A paper’s weight, on the other hand,

is its mass divided by its area, usually expressed in pounds or grams per square meter (g/sm).

12
Water resistant:

Compressive strength:

Fold endurance:

Synthesis

Several studies on paper making only focus on finding a sustainable paper packaging

(Oleyede & Lignou, 2021; Xen, Sen & Rajendran, 2019; Guillard, Gaucel, Fornaciari, Coussy,

Buche & Gontard, 2018) However, these studies failed to focus on finding a non-wood material

for paper making. This study is focusing on making sargassum-based paper packaging. The

sargassum serves as a non-wood material for paper making. The researchers will conduct this

study to lessen the use of trees as a main material needed for paper making.

Chapter 3

Methodology

This chapter reveals the research method used by the researchers in conducting the study,

including the research design, preparation of materials, procedure, gathering data, and statistical

treatment.

13
 The purpose of this research is to make recycled paper packaging out of sargassum

seaweed and water hyacinth as an eco-friendly material that does not decompose over time. This

qualitative research will explore sargassum seaweed and water hyacinth as environmental

entrepreneurship by making recycled paper packaging as a source of livelihood.

Research Design

The researcher will use a two-group design in the study to determine the difference

between the sargassum paper packaging with water hyacinth bio wax and the regular paper

packaging. The experimental group will be the sargassum-based hydrophobic paper packaging

with water hyacinth bio-wax and the control group will be the hydrophobic regular paper

packaging. The researchers will use 3 replicates for each variable.

Preparation of Materials and Procedure

The things to do are packaging out of sargassum seaweed and water hyacinth. The

first step in creating this project is gathering the necessary supplies, which include dried

sargassum seaweed, water hyacinth extract, mold deckle, water, and a blender. Sargassum

seaweed must be sun-dried for 3-4 days until they are completely dry. After drying the

sargassum seaweed, wash it again with clean water then grind the sargassum seaweed material to

a particle size not more than 500 mm and then placed it in a container filled with water to begin

molding. Lastly, the algal material must be mixed with cellulose fiber (water hyacinth) to create

a homogeneous mixture. The presser could be anything used to flatten out the dried sargassum

seaweed. Cover the whole exterior part of the paper packaging and wait for it to dry for about 40

14
– 50 minutes. When it is completely dry, take-out paper packaging with a plastic film made of

sargassum seaweed it is done, to reveal an environmentally friendly paper product.

The aquatic water hyacinth plant was first gathered from tropical and subtropical regions,

including most ponds, lakes, and canals. The step in the extraction process is crushing water

hyacinth stems, leaves, and adding an ethanol solution leaching for 4 to 8 hours at 30 to 50

degrees Celsius filtering, reacting 1 to 3 times to obtain a filter solution and performing

concentration.

The purpose of this research is to make recycled paper packaging out of sargassum

seaweed and water hyacinth as an eco-friendly material. Sargassum seaweed are found all over

the world in tropical regions, and they are frequently the most noticeable macrophyte in the

nearby coastal area where Sargassum beds frequently occur. Sargassum seaweed is a type of

brown seaweed (and a type of algae). Water hyacinth which has good hydrophobicity, high

uptake capacity and biodegradability is essential for oil sorption. It is commonly found in ponds,

rivers, and lakes. This study aims to test the resistance of sargassum paper packaging with water

hyacinth bio wax.

Data Gathering

The Researcher will collect sargassum seaweed in Sitio Arosan, Bolinao, Pangasinan and

water hyacinth in Canarem Lake (Brgy. Canarem, Victoria, Tarlac). The researcher will conduct

the study at Brgy. San Gavino, Victoria, Tarlac. The sargassum seaweed and water hyacinth will

soon be processed to produce sargassum-based hydrophobic paper packaging. This material

serves as an alternative sustainable material for paper making.

15
Thickness

To measure the thickness of the sargassum paper packaging, the researcher will be using

a caliper. Between the caliper’s jaws, a piece of paper or paperboard is placed. The gap between

the jaws is then measured after the jaws have been compressed. The thickness of a single sheet of

paper can be seen using digital calipers. The paper’s thickness must be around 35-41 mm.

Water Resistant

To ascertain how water resistant the sargassum paper packaging in a certain time, a timer

and clear container with water is needed by the researcher. The time will be around 10 minutes,

30 minutes, 1 hour. The appearance of the paper packaging will be evaluated using qualitative

testing in the rate of:

1-Nothing Happens 2-Slightly Ripped Off 3-Totally Ripped Off

Fold Endurance

To measure the fold endurance of sargassum paper packaging, the researchers will use a

Schopper double fold tester. Fold endurance measures the durability of paper when repeatedly

folded under constant load. It evaluates how many folds the paper can withstand before breaking.

Risk and Safety

16
 The researchers will be using some laboratory equipment for the study. For safety,

researchers will use some protective gear such as gloves, goggles, and lab coats.

Statistical Treatment

In this study, we will use T-test (two groups) to compare the researcher's study which is

Sargassum paper packaging with water hyacinth bio wax and regular paper packaging. The

effectiveness and efficiency of the water hyacinth bio wax will be in the experimental group and

the texture, and thickness of the paper will be in the control group.

All data that will be gathered and will be collected, will be assigned and subject to

statistical analysis and will be used in two group designs.

17
Bibliography

(PDF) a study on the benefits of eco-friendly packaging on sustainable … (n.d.-d).

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337867463_A_study_on_the_benefits_of_eco-

friendly_packaging_on_sustainable_supply_chain_management_in_fast_moving_consumer_goods_ind

ustry

About us - the pond digger. The Pond Digger – Pond Supplies, Waterfalls, & Koi Pond

Construction. (2023, February 15). https://theponddigger.com/about-us/

Berg, P., & Lingqvist, O. (2019, August 7). Pulp, paper, and packaging in the next decade:

Transformational change. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/paper-

forest-products-and-packaging/our-insights/pulp-paper-and-packaging-in-the-next-decade-

transformational-change

Billerud | LinkedIn. (n.d.-a). https://www.linkedin.com/company/billerud

Consumer perceptions of food packaging: Contributing to or … (n.d.-b).

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pts.2184

El‐Sayed, E. S. A., & El-Sakhawy, M. (1970, January 1). Non-wood fibers as raw material for

pulp and Paper Industry: Semantic Scholar. Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal.

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Non-wood-fibers-as-raw-material-for-pulp-and-paper-El

%E2%80%90Sayed-El-Sakhawy/518d2282f977e2cd0a06eaa022a48437b330ef7f

Guillard V;Gaucel S;Fornaciari C;Angellier-Coussy H;Buche P;Gontard N; (n.d.). The next

generation of sustainable food packaging to preserve our environment in a circular economy context.

Frontiers in nutrition. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30564581/

18
 Jin, S.-S., Qi, Y.-P., Shen, Y.-F., & Li, H. (2019, December 1). The application of organosilicon

modified polyurethane in reinforcing traditional paper. De Gruyter.

https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/npprj-2019-0014/html

Lynn Price | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, ca | LBL | energy … (n.d.-c).

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lynn-Price

Repas, L. (2022, February 22). Paper packaging uses three billion trees a year. Canopy.

https://canopyplanet.org/paper-packaging-uses-three-billion-trees-a-year/

Sustainable paper-based packaging: A consumer’s perspective. (n.d.-e).

https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/97941/1/Sustainable%20paper-based%20packaging_a%20consumer%27s

%20perspective.pdf

T;, D. G. N. (n.d.). An overview of paper and paper based Food Packaging Materials: Health

Safety and environmental concerns. Journal of food science and technology.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31686671/

U.S. paper industry reaches Recycling High in 2021. U.S. Paper Industry Reaches Recycling High

in 2021 | AF&PA. (2022, May 24). https://www.afandpa.org/news/2022/us-paper-industry-

reaches-recycling-high-2021

19