The Effectiveness of Sansevieria trifasciata(Snake Plant) Fiber as Raw

Material in Making Eco-bags

I. Abstract
Nowadays, people and government are become more concern of our
environment. Global warming which leads to changes in climate causes to
reduce agricultural yields and increases the intensity of extreme weather
events such as flooding and landslides. At an individual level, people can
contribute to prevent these disasters by minimizing and wise usage of
plastics.
II. Background of the Study
The group conducts a study to make a less expensive and a new
alternative way in making eco paper bags. The group thought a way on
how they can use the snake plant in order to make an alternative paper
sheets.
III. Related Literature
Stated that eco-friendly bags are a great alternative to disposable plastic
bags. Each year billions of plastic bags end up as ugly litter. Eco friendly
bags rarely end up as litter. Plastic bags eventually break down into tiny
toxic bit polluting our soil, river, lakes, and oceans. Eco Friendly bags are
not only reusable, but eco-friendly bags are made from recycled materials.
IV. Statement of the Problem
The research study was conducted to examine the potential of Snake Plant
as an alternative source of fiber in making paper for the commercial
branded one.
Variables
As an action, some cities and municipalities of Laguna implemented new
law that forbidden the use of plastics in their places. Together with this
act, paper bags and eco bags will now replace plastic bags in different
establishments like supermarket /groceries and fast-food restaurants.
Eco friendly bags, an environmentally-friendly reusable bag made from
cloth or recycled plastic, are a great alternative to disposable plastic bags.
Each year billions of plastic bags end up as ugly litter. Eco friendly bags
rarely end up as litter. Plastic bags eventually break down into tiny toxic
bit polluting our soil, river, lakes, and oceans. Eco Friendly bags are not
only reusable, but bags which are made from biodegradable/recycled
materials.
Because of the increasing demand of eco bags, the group decided to
search for a new alternative way of producing eco paper bags using

Sansevieria trifasciata (Snake Plant or mother-in-law's tongue) by

extracting its fiber.
Snake plant paper is made from fibers extracted from snake plant. The
long sinuous fibers are formed into a paper that is highly distinctive. This
type of paper refers to as eco paper because the paper uses fibers that
go into the waste system and also this paper is extremely textured and
makes an interesting addition to stamping and scrap booking projects. As
of now, Snake Plant paper is not yet available in the market.
According to wikipedia.org (2012), Sansevieria trifasciata, also called
snake plant or mother-in-law's tongue, is a species of flowering plant in
the family Asparagaceae, native to tropical West Africa from Nigeria east
to the Congo.
According to M. Kanimozhi (2011), Worldwide there are more than 12
Sansevieria species present in different continents. The common species
are S. cylindrical and S. trifasciata.(...)S.trifisciata fibers shows that fiber
has good strength, fineness with low elongation.
Herald-Tribune Magazine said that Sansevieria fiber has long been used by
natives in the tropics and subtropics for ropes and twines.
Objectives
General
Specific
1. To make eco paper bags out of Snake Plant
2. To make a less expensive eco paper bags
1. To extract fibers from Snake Plant
2. To make different sizes of Snake Plant paper
VI. Hypothesis
1. The amount of Snake plant used can affect the number of Snake Plant
paper produced.
2. The time of boiling the Snake Plant leaves has an effect to the quality of
Snake Plant paper.
3. The amount of water and corn starch used in boiling the Snake Plant
leaves can affect the time to dry the Snake Plant paper produced.
4. The time of blending the boiled Snake Plant leaves has an effect to the
surface texture of the Snake Plant paper.
VI. Experiment
VII. Materials
1kg Snake Plant leaves
Casserole
Blender
Stove
Knife

 1 cup of Corn Starch

Silk Screen
Spatula
3L of water
VIII. Procedure
1. Chop up the Snake Plant leaves into several thin and fine pieces less
than one inch long.
2. Place the Snake Plant leaves in a large casserole.
3. Fill the casserole with 3L of water and 1 cup of corn starch so that the
chopped leaves float and then boil it in a casserole on the stove.
4. Stir the chopped leaves constantly for two hours.
5. Remove the casserole from the stove and use the blender to whip the
boiled leaves into fine slurry.
6. Take the casserole full of leaves and a silkscreen or fine mesh screen
outdoors. Ladle the leaves slurry onto the screen, spreading the slurry
lightly and consistently using spatula, the Snake Plant paper will be dry.
IX. Data and Results
2004
2007
2010
2013
Table 1. The amount of Snake Plant leaves used to produced snake plant
paper
Table 2. The time of boiling the Snake Plant leaves
Table 3. The amount of water used in boiling the Snake Plant leaves
Table 4. The time of blending of the boiled Snake Plant leaves.
The table shows that the greater the amount of Snake Plant leaves used,
more Snake plant paper produced.
The table shows that the greater the time of boiling the Snake Plant
leaves, the finer the Snake Plant paper is.
The table shows that the greater the amount of water used in boiling the
Snake plant levaes takes long time to dry the Snake Plant paper.
The table shows that the longer the time of crushing the Snake Plant
leaves, the smoother it is.
X. Conclusion
We found out that:
1. The greater the amount of Snake Plant leaves used, more Snake Plant
paper produced.
2. The greater the time of boiling the Snake Plant leaves, the finer the
Snake plant paper is.
3. The greater the amount of water used in boiling the Snake Plant leaves
takes long time to dry the Snake Plant paper.

4. The greater the time of blending the Snake Plant leaves, the smoother
it is.
5. The greater the amount of corn starch, the paper becomes crispier.
XI. Recommendation
Production of Snake Plant paper from leaves yielded positive results. To
further improve the study, the group also recommend the following:
1. Slice the Snake Plant leaves into tinier pieces so that it easy to be
crushed in the blender.
2. Rinse it directly under the sun or above the roof so that it will not
consume much time to dry the paper.
3. Use bleach for a white kind of paper.