A

COMPARATIV
E ANALYSIS
OF
QUALITIES
AND USES
BETWEEN
RICE STRAW-
MADE PAPER
AND USUAL
Introduction
 Paper is being used every day and everywhere
by people especially for those who are at school,
offices, and even at home.
Wood is the primary source of raw material,
such as fiber, for papermaking. K. W. Britt (2012)
stated that due to vast and speed increasing of
wood for pulp consumption, the reduction of
forest resources has been demonstrated.
Aside from woods as the main material, there
are also some agricultural residues and plants
that can be used for papermaking. Rice straw
also contributed a big role for the paper industry.
 Rice straw has a dual benefit
for farmers and industries in
making it as a raw material for
pulp and paper.
Objectives
I. To present the differences and similarities of
both papers in terms of their qualities.

II. To express how usual and rice straw-made

papers are effective in people’s necessities
based on their different functions.

III. To know how paper made from rice straw

can perform well as an alternative usual paper.
Null Hypothesis
H0: Rice straw paper can perform
better in terms of qualities and
every day usage and also a much
eco-friendlier type of paper than
the regular white paper.
Contribution
The generalization of this study that the researchers
are conducting would also give a great contribution
on understanding more about paper and agricultural
industry. The outcome if this research could be
beneficial to these following groups of people:

 Students
 Academes, universities and offices
 Future researchers
 Paper industry
Methodology
 In this research study, the researchers will
acquire its data by using a Qualitative
Research approach.
 Experimental design
 Interview
 In selecting the respondents for this
research, the researchers directly chose
people who are experts in paper making and
a professional teacher as a common user of
papers.
Results
1.) What are the qualities that you have observed in rice
straw made paper and usual white paper?
“Based on my observation in the researchers’ product (rice straw paper), it is made from
long fiber, however to make a paper with good bonding and forming, the researchers should
mixed the long fibers and short fibers. When you compare it with a white paper, the process
of forming and bonding were done perfectly.”
—Respondent 1: Operator of a Paper Mill Company in Bulacan

“Both papers have different qualities that can be identified as good or bad. For the rice
straw paper, obviously the color is yellowish, thicker compare to the normal one, and has a
rough texture. Though it’s a little heavier, it is eco-friendly. While in the usual paper, it’s color
white, thin, lightweight and has a soft texture.”
—Respondent 2: Paper Engineer of an Engineering Firm in Makati City

“With the comparison I’ve made with the two papers, there are several
things that I have observed. First is the texture, it is very evident that the paper made out of
rice straw is more coarse than the usual paper. Second thing I noticed is the flexibility. I would
say the usual paper is much more flexible and pliable than the other one and it is not supple
enough to bend freely or repeatedly without breaking it.”
—Respondent 3: High School Teacher from a public school in Bulacan
2.) For you, how will you use each paper when it comes
to your everyday necessities?

“White bond paper can be used in packaging, like for foods, it is also commonly used as a
platform for writing. While the rice straw paper, it can be utilized for designing, arts and crafts
and even for room decorations.”
— Respondent 1: Operator of a Paper Mill Company in Bulacan

“As an engineer, it is necessary for me to always bring a paper, because from paper, it shows
what you need for a project, even a simple sketch will do when it comes to facing the client. If
there are things that I have to take down notes, I jot down it right away. Paper also serves as a
tool for both parties to visualize (client, architect and engineer) a project, and even construction
workers. We have this material called blueprint, wherein all of the sketches and drawings of the
project are there, meaning even the project can be done digitally, we still need to print them
and make copies for the client and especially construction workers.”
—Respondent 2: Paper Engineer of an Engineering Firm in Makati City

“Practically and logically speaking, it would be a lot more convenient to use the usual paper
than the rice straw paper, however, it would be nice and sentimental to use this paper when
making a letter to someone as this was made personally.”
—Respondent 3: High School Teacher from a public school in Bulacan
3.) How do you find both papers as an eco-friendly material?
“For white paper, there’s a chance that recycled paper(s) was used as one of its material but still, it
also contained unbleached craft (wood fibers). On rice straw paper, I can tell that it is indeed eco-friendly
because of the waste product that the researchers used. The researchers didn’t cut trees to produce it.
In a paper mill company, you need to be eco-friendly. You should not dump wastes that can be bad in
both land and water forms, avoid chemicals that are poisonous once the paper is use for food packaging
and especially avoid cutting trees to make a paper. These days, a company should produce paper that is
very much environmentally friendly, it should always made from recycled materials with 0% toxicity. Like
the researchers’ product, it is made with rice straw, a material that will only decompose and burn after
harvesting.”
— Respondent 1: Operator of a Paper Mill Company in Bulacan

“For me, rice straw paper is more eco-friendly, since our country has high rates in rice production, so
instead of dumping used rice straws anywhere, it can be used as an alternative for the paper, but the
thing is the process of making it needs a lot of improvement. In usual paper, it is made from wood fibers
that came from trees, and trees are very important, so instead of us helping the nature, we are more like
destroying it.”
—Respondent 2: Paper Engineer of an Engineering Firm in Makati City

“Without a doubt, it is certain that the rice straw paper is more eco-friendly that the usual paper due
to the fact that it was made out of pure recycled materials, but I believe it would take a lot of effort for
this product to be mass-produced.”
—Respondent 3: High School Teacher from a public school in Bulacan
4.) Do you think that the both papers have the same
level in terms of its function as a paper? Why or why
not?
“No. The researchers’ product could be useful as a bond paper if the process of it will make
an improvement, like the fibers that was used, it needs to be finer and make it more even and if
necessary, put other chemicals that can help the paper’s texture to become better. It needs
more research to function as paper. The process in making the white paper was well studied,
specifically its weight, color, the chemicals that were used is in the right dosage, its moisture
content was just right for a paper and it can manage well when it is being exposed to the
environment.”
— Respondent 1: Operator of a Paper Mill Company in Bulacan

“Based on the qualities I’ve said earlier, I think they don’t have the same level of
functionality. By just looking at it, I can tell that white paper is more effective in terms of writing.
Like I’ve said, its texture is rough. Comparing to the quality of the usual paper, rice straw paper
needs more improvement and enhancement to reach the same level of effectivity.”
—Respondent 2: Paper Engineer of an Engineering Firm in Makati City

“No. I would think of the rice straw paper as more of a craft paper. So in terms of
functionality they differ in so many ways.”
—Respondent 3: High School Teacher from a public school in Bulacan
5.) How can the researchers improve our prototype rice
straw paper product for it to become a more useful
alternative usual paper?
“Personally, my advice for the product is to make more research about its improvement, take time
to search if it is needed more recycled materials and how to make it finer or if it needs more
chemicals to improve the physical qualities. And also the paper making process, gather more
information about the forming, bonding and even drying for it to become more effective and can be
used as the white paper.”
— Respondent 1: Operator of a Paper Mill Company

“I think the researchers need more extensive research for the product to become efficient as an
alternative for the usual white paper. Personally, I think it is better if the researchers will interview
workers of a paper mill factory before going to the main paper making process, because there are
chemicals that were mixed during the production of paper for coloring and having that soft texture. I
think you need to focus on those two qualities.”
—Respondent 2: Paper Engineer of an Engineering Firm in Makati City

“The researcher were successfully executed their vision, moreover it is really a great solution in
reducing the waste instead of just burning them. My only suggestion is that the researcher should find
more relevant researches and studies about this potential product, so that sooner or later this can be
an alternative to usual paper.”
—Respondent 3: High School Teacher from a public school in Bulacan
Discussion
 After hearing the answers, researchers analyzed
the gathered qualitative data from the
respondents and it served as the results of this
research study.
The researchers have concluded that rice straw
made paper and usual paper have many
differences in terms of the qualities and uses.
Usual white paper has higher qualities that can
make it more functional than the researchers’
prototype product.
 According to experts, rice straw
paper, is much more eco-friendly
than the usual paper that people
use. Aside for being eco-friendly to
produce, it is also recyclable. It is
easy to do but takes time and long
preparation to perfect.
 The researchers construct some
recommendations and suggestions to conduct
the readers for better outcomes:

1. Make a thorough research to produce a more

effective and useful product.
2. Practice proper usage and recycling of papers
3. Use eco-friendly papers
4. Make more research and studies about
papers that are made from waste products
THANK YOU AND GOD
BLESS!
Prepared by Group 6 (STEM 6)

M. Cruz, E. Dela Cruz, M. Jacob, M. N. Lacanilao,

A. N. Paulate, K. C. Peralta, F. Silverio, M. P.
Tenorio