Working Title: Biodegradable plastic packaging from cornstarch

Rationale

Communities worldwide have reached a point in which plastic has become unavoidable

in our daily lives. In the Philippines alone, the plastics industry generates an appalling 2.7

million tons of plastic waste each year (The World Bank, 2021). This industry is fueled by

corporations such as Coca-Cola, Nestle, and Universal Robina, our country’s top plastic

pollutors (Branded, 2019). While plastic is not a necessity, these corporations play a tremendous

part in our overuse of what many call ‘single-use’ plastics, such as food containers, cigarette

butts, sanitary items (European Commission, n.d.), and one of the most commonly used

packaging methods in the Philippines, sachets (Guevarra, 2022). Furthermore, with the growth of

online shopping, alongside its use of plastic packaging such as bubble mailers and bubble wrap,

we can only expect this number to grow as time passes.

The reason plastic pollution has grown into such a huge problem is due to its rate of

degradation. There are many claims that plastic bags only degrade in 10-20 years or 500-1000

years. However, many of these claims fail to show how plastic degradation depends on a variety

of factors, such as plastic type and environmental conditions. Because of this, we cannot entirely

believe these claims and therefore cannot pinpoint exactly when plastic degrades (Chamas et al.,

2020). What we do know, is we consume plastic faster than it can degrade, leaving us with an
unnecessary amount of plastic polluting our environment. This is why we chose to study how

bioplastics derived from cornstarch can supply the need for plastic packaging in the community.

According to a study conducted by Abe et al. (2021), starch based bioplastics completely

biodegrade after 30 days, making bioplastic packaging a viable product for short distances and

time periods. However, what other researchers seem to lack priority in are durability tests in the

context of packaging. It is important that packaging is able to protect the product no matter the

conditions, and in order for cornstarch bioplastic to be a viable alternative, we decided to focus

on the resilience and durability of the bioplastic. This way, we can create an alternative to

packaging that is safer for the environment and for our community.

Engineering Goals/Outcomes

The purpose of this study is to look into cornstarch bioplastics, its uses, functions, and

components. Our goal is to explore cornstarch bioplastics as an alternative to plastic packaging.

In this research, the following objectives must be satisfied:

1. Create biodegradable plastic packaging from cornstarch

2. Test the durability of cornstarch bioplastics in terms of:

- Elasticity

- Tensile strength

- Fire resistance

- Heat Endurance

3. Compare the production cost of cornstarch plastics with the commercial ones.
Background of the study: ( starting)

People, especially those from the rural and impoverished areas worldwide have been bound to
the extremities of plastic pollution. This demarcation was attributed from the unavoidable need
and use of plastics on a daily basis. In the Philippines alone, plastic has reached a
staggering…? Bioplastics by definition, are made from renewable resources and can be
naturally recycled by biological processes, thus limiting the use of fossil fuels and protecting the
environment (Ashter, 2016 pg. 251). Renewable resources such as corn fibers, corn starch,
vegetable fats and oils, straws, woodchips, sawdust, and recycled food wastes are some of the
biocomposite materials in the biocomposite research field. Plasticizers are low molecular weight
substances added to a polymer solution to promote its plasticity and flexibility.

Possible research gaps: ( pa add for possible one)

- Proper disposal of cornstarch bioplastic ( for it not to be another problem if not properly
disposed)
- (Relate to research goals)
- Affordability of cornstarch bioplastic as packaging (given that cornstarch bioplastics are
more pricey)
-