DLSU Senior High School Research Congress Conference Proceedings
Document Type
Paper Presentation
Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)
Menzi, Illuminada S.
Abstract/Executive Summary
The environmental impact of plastic packaging is a growing global concern, with the rise of online shopping and its dependence on single-use plastics like bubble wrap. This study examines the potential of Allium sativum (garlic) peels as a sustainable protective packaging material, evaluating their durability, biodegradability, and acceptability in comparison to conventional bubble wrap. Specimens of garlic paper and bubble wrap were then tested under different parameters. Under durability, the results showed that garlic peel paper had a mean tensile strength of 416.80 N/m, comparable to bubble wrap at 453.90 N/m, with no significant difference in tensile strength. In terms of biodegradability, a two-week soil burial test was conducted on garlic paper and bubble wrap. With this, garlic peel paper exhibited a higher rate of biodegradability, with a 36.92% weight loss, compared to bubble wrap, which showed no weight loss. As for acceptability, interviews with local businesses revealed that the eco-friendliness and ease of use were appreciated; however, durability was a primary concern, and it was suggested that the product be further thickened. This paper found that garlic paper would be more environmentally friendly, and with improvements in other aspects such as durability, the market acceptance will be further enhanced. It is recommended that future researchers collaborate with a paper manufacturer, explore the use of reinforcing agents, investigate pre-treatment methods, enhance the product's marketability, conduct a detailed cost analysis, and compare garlic peel paper to standard commercial paper, rather than plastic bubble wrap.
Keywords
bubble wrap; biodegradability; durability; garlic peels; protective packaging