The Potential of Banana Stem Fiber in Production of Eco Bag

A Research Plan proposed to the faculty

of St. Dominic College Basic Education
In partial fulfillment of Performance Task in Science

Submitted by:

Arambulo, Stephanie Keirsten I.

Asiao, Julius Fillip P.
Barbas, Anton John R.
Dumadag, Yves Laurence O.
Flores, Gabriel John E.
Park, Hae Shin Venice S.
Salceda, Jade H.
Siddayao, Aedriene Sherllyze C.

March 11, 2023

 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

This chapter discusses the introduction, review of related literature, aims and objectives,

research questions and hypotheses, conceptual framework, and the scope and limitation of the

study.

1.1 Introduction

Annual global production of plastics exceeds 300 million metric tons (The

Consequences of a Plastic-filled World, 2022). Plastic has toxic pollutants that damage the

environment. It can take hundreds or even thousands of years for plastic to break down (Earth

Eclipse, 2017), so the damage to the environment is long-lasting. Plastic is the most common

garbage waste that we can find elsewhere (Visual Feature | Beat Plastic Pollution, n.d.). This

garbage is often thrown away without thinking about recycling it or its possible uses. Although

some are recycled, the majority end up in landfills or the oceans, where they can harm marine

life (Problems Caused by Plastic Bags | PDF | Pollution | Sewage, n.d.). As the world produces

400 million tons of plastic every year, the amount of garbage in the world increases as the

population grows. Not only does plastic cause damage to the ocean, but it can also damage

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groundwater sources. Many regions are already facing issues; water sources everywhere are in

danger because of plastic pollution. Plastic toxins in dumps and from litter can seep into the

groundwater, which people drink every day. Making plastic bags requires an enormous amount

of energy and resources. In addition, the weight and size of a paper bag are much larger than

those of a plastic bag. That simply adds more tonish to the landfill system and more greenhouse

gas emissions to the environment. This research is focused on making an alternative to replace

our world’s problem, which is plastic. We decided to investigate another permanent substitution

through organic materials that can decompose in a short period of time.

Intelligently using these materials, which can be converted into a product that can be a

potential solution to one of the leading problems the world faces, plastic pollution, by simply

reusing banana stem fibers, the amount of waste in households may be decreased. We plan to

make eco-friendly bags using banana waste that everyone can easily buy and afford. The

banana fiber eco-bags, on the other hand, have good length, strength, fineness, and excellent

moisture absorption and can be a possible substitute for a paper bag. Banana fruit waste will be

utilized to the greatest extent possible. Instead of immediately throwing it away, it can be

recycled into a material that will be further used.

One thing is certain: the product will help reduce garbage waste in our community and

try to replace plastic for everyday use.

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1.2 Review of Related Literature

The following are related articles and literature that support the study. These studies

highlight the importance of the study as well as the impacts of it in the society and environment.

Banana Stem

Banana fiber is a natural fiber. It is a lignocellulosic fiber. It is obtained from the pseudo-stem of

the banana plant (Musa sepientum). So it is a bast fiber. It can be blended easily with cotton fiber

or other synthetic fibers to produce blended fabric & textiles.The potential of a banana tree to be

used in different products has been widely recognized. From its fruits to its trunks and stems,

many experts have been utilizing this plant. One of the most studied parts of a banana tree is its

pseudo-stem. In the study of Subagyo and Chafidz (2018), the potential products to be produced

from its pseudo-stem have been presented. Banana stem fibers have been produced because of its

potential in terms of being used in other applications such as string threads, papers, place mats,

textile materials and even in fabricated ropes. The potential of these products are significantly

undeniable because it opens a new opportunity in creating a new method of producing these sorts

of products.

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Production of Eco-Bag

Eco-bags have become an efficient product in terms of reducing the plastic use and

waste in most places in the world. The wide use of eco-bags has been patronized by most

people because of its efficiency, durability and versatility. They are lightweight and can be

reused any time. The production of eco-bags have increased because they are not only used for

grocery and shopping purposes. They are also widely used as a new trend in high-end bag

productions as well as other fashionable handbags. (Pashkevych, et al., 2019). They are

lightweight and cost-efficient. Most productions are also promoted because of the development

it brought to diverse methods of producing fashionable bags as well as reducing waste products

that harm the environment.

Plant-based Eco-Bag

Most eco-bags are plant-based. They are produced from the fibers of plants as well as

other alternatives. Plants that have a fibrous material such as pineapple have been utilized in

producing different products. However, its potentiality in producing high quality and efficient

eco-bags have been studied and proven. Sustainability is now being applied in the field of

designing and engineering by means of integrating the sustainable aspect of using plants for

product development (Faradilla, et al., 2022). The establishment of the Avani Eco, led by the

well known Indonesian social entrepreneur Kevin Kumala, paved the way for the use of

cassava to create compostable packagings and bags which can be used as an alternative to

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plastic. (Samantarai and Perepu, 2021). Most studies that have been conducted proves that

The Potential of Banana Stem Fiber as Eco-Bag

Utilizing many parts of plants and animals have been a practice for sustainable living.

The significance for these materials have been recognized due to its potential and benefits

because of their biodegradability, renewability and ability to become more useful and higher

quality than synthetic products. (Vigneswaran, et al., 2015)

Moreover, different fibres have been produced over fruits and other plants, and one of the

fibres that has the highest potential is banana stems. (Balda, et al., 2021) Other than pineapple,

banana pseudo-stems are found to be a potential major producer of fibers. Many studies have

proven the potential of banana in terms of producing bio-products. Bananas pseudostems have

been utilized from being a waste to a biodegradable material to produce fibers used in textile and

fabric production and even other useful products such as fish feed, paper and handicrafts. (Shen,

et al., 2014) Even in developing countries such as Nigeria, banana stem fiber has been a game

changer in the field of fashion where the use of fiber coming from the plantain and banana plants

have been utilized and integrated in the making of textile fabrics. (Okeke & Chukueggu, 2021)

Moreover, banana stem fibers are proven to be stronger and useful for bag production. Its

properties show a lot of potentiality and the manufacturing is inexpensive, as well as

eco-friendly. (Bhatnagar, et al., 2015) Due to its natural properties, banana stem fibers are easier

to work with. Furthermore, natural pigments are also not hard to apply to the fiber. They can be a

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source of products as well as a source of employment because it opens new opportunities to

many individuals (Sangamithirai & Vasugi, 2020). The usefulness of this material is beneficial

for zero waste disposal as well as producing bio-products in helping the environment to grow.

(Mohiuddin, et al., 2014)

https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/64570

https://www.cetjournal.it/cet/22/94/158.pdf

https://t.co/1eCczczUYH

https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/AGRIC/article/view/19870

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10098-021-02041-y

https://ichekejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/23.-Fashion-Design-in-Nigeria-and-

Possibilities-with-Plantain-Fibre.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367023462_A_Review_on_Composition_and_Pro

perties_of_Banana_Fibers

http://horticultureresearch.net/jah/2020_22_2_133_136.pdf

https://www.academia.edu/download/84673725/IRJET_V9I2103.pdf

https://jtatm.textiles.ncsu.edu/index.php/JTATM/article/download/6825/3586

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1.3 The Aims and Objectives of the Study

When it comes to being environmentally responsible and eco-friendly, biodegradable

eco-bags are are a better option. On the other side, plastic contributes to the world's problems

rather than solving them. Thus, this study is about learning the compatibility of a variety of fruit

waste and utilizing it to produce an eco bag. Throughout the study, the researchers intend to use

the banana stem fibers as the base ingredient in producing the eco bag.

The research method of this study is qualitative research as it involves collecting data

such as durability, weight capacity, and overall appearance of the output we provided.

Furthermore, this study sought to help the environment. The effects of using plastic

keep getting worse due to a series of circumstances, including the extreme heat that can lead

animals to leave their habitats and become dehydrated. And because they are composed of

petroleum, plastic bags contribute to the depletion of fossil fuels. So, just by producing our

eco-bags, not only can we reduce greenhouse gas emissions that badly affect the environment,

but it can also serve as a stepping stone towards the development of what we want to achieve in

our research. Thus, the production of banana stem fiber bags is intended to reduce the need for

single-use plastic bags, which have been proven to be harmful to the environment, as well as to

recycle solid waste.

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1.4 The Research Questions and Hypotheses

1. Can banana stem fiber mixed with sodium hydroxide be effectively made into an eco

bag?

2. Which concentration of banana stem fiber and sodium hydroxide is the most effective in

creating an eco bag in terms of:

2.1 durability

2.2 weight capacity

3. Is there a correlation between the different concentrations of banana stem fiber and

sodium hydroxide in terms of:

3.1 durability

3.2 weight capacity

Null hypothesis: The banana stem fiber mixed with sodium hydroxide cannot be effectively

made into an eco bag.

Alternative hypothesis: The banana stem fiber mixed with sodium hydroxide cannot be

effectively made into an eco bag.

Null hypothesis: The concentration of banana stem fiber and sodium hydroxide with the ratio

of 100g/100mLis the least effective in creating an eco bag.

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Alternative hypothesis: The concentration of banana stem fiber and sodium hydroxide with

the ratio of 100g/25mLis the least effective in creating an eco bag.

Null Hypothesis: There is no correlation in terms of durability and weight capacity.

Alternative Hypothesis: There is a correlation in terms of durability and weight capacity.

1.5 Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

● Banana pseudostem ● Combining the raw ● Eco bag

fibers materials
● Sodium hydroxide ● Shaping the product
like a paper bag
● Testing it using the
durability, and weight
capacity test

The study used an input-process-output model to describe the structure of this research. First, the

input includes the independent variable (banana pseudostem fibers) and the controlled variable

(sodium hydroxide). Then, the process starts by combining the raw materials before shaping the

product like a paper bag. After that, it will be tested using the durability, and weight capacity

test. Lastly, the output will be the dependent variable (eco bag).

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1.6 Scope and Limitations

Scope

- Natural fibers of plant and animal origin have been extensively studied over the past two

decades and are gaining more attention than synthetic fibers due to their biodegradability,

renewable potential, light weight, and superior biochemical and strength properties.

Among them, banana is one of the most consumed fruits in the world, with an annual

production of 115.7 million tonnes in 2018, which is grown in 130 countries, reducing

banana waste. Banana fiber is very interesting because it is available locally.

Pseudo-strains account for the majority of banana waste biomass and have potential

industrial uses in the production of paper for eco-bags. Banana fiber is a natural bast fiber

and is widely used in the development of crafts such as mats, ropes, eco-friendly bags,

and twine. The remaining ones are used as a fertilizer or sometimes, a waste. Banana

pseudo-stem fibers have physical and chemical characteristics and other properties that

make them good quality fiber. In terms of physical properties, it has been reported in the

literature that the banana pseudo-stem fiber has good modulus of elasticity, tensile

strength, and stiffness, which makes it a promising fiber material. The appearance of

banana pseudo-stem fiber is quite like ramie and bamboo fiber, but its spin ability and

fineness are much better than that of ramie and bamboo. It is a strong fiber and has lower

strain at break.

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 Limitations

- It is reasonable to expect that agricultural byproducts will be a major source of

industrial products and chemicals in the near future. However, there are a few

limitations associated with agro-based fibers that should be considered when designing

products using bio-fibers. The primary limitation is the relatively higher moisture

content of natural fibers, making it difficult for the hydrophobic fibers and hydrophilic

polymers to bond together.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

coojemme. (n.d.). BANANA-STEM-FIBER-RESEARCH-IMMERSION-FINAL.docx -

CHAPTER I. Course Hero.

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SION-FINALdocx/

Common Texture. (2019, June 4). Banana Fiber Bags - Why We Go Bananas. Common

Texture.

https://commontexture.com/blogs/journal/banana-fiber-bags-why-we-go-bananas

Earth Eclipse. (n.d.). Plastic Waste: Environmental Effects of Plastic Pollution. Earth Eclipse.

https://eartheclipse.com/environment/environmental-effects-plastic-pollution.html

Hassan, R. (2021, September 9). Problems Caused by Plastic Bags. Scribd.

https://www.scribd.com/document/524113147/Problems-Caused-by-Plastic-Bags

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