Rice to Rise: Development and Utilization of Rice Hull Paper Bags in Rice Retail Stores in Southern Leyte, Philippines
Eden Vina L. Grate, Jolina S. Ladan, Rovic D. Oppus, and Pet Anthony L. Pascual

Department of Food Science and Technology, Southern Leyte State University-Main Campus

Abstract

Rice hull is regarded as one of the Philippines^ most abundant biomass resources and present an environmental problem concerning its disposal. Milled rice is typically purchased in small quantities and packaged in non-biodegradable plastic packaging. Hence, this project aims to develop a rice hull based paperboard packaging as alternative to non-biodegradable plastic packaging used in rice retail stores. The procedure involves alkali treatment to produce pulp from rice hull, bleaching with sodium hypochlorite, binding, sheet forming using a flat metal sheet compressor, and sewing. The result of this project will primarily reduce the ecological impact of open burning of rice hulls, demonstrate the feasibility of substituting wood chips used in paper-based packaging and thus reducing deforestation, and become a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging commonly used by rice retail stores in the Philippines.

Keywords: soda pulping, packaging, agriculture, non-wood, fiber

Topic: Food and Nutrition Security