The Efficacy of Coconut Coir Fiber as an Alternative

Material for Creating Handicrafts

A Research Project of

Renz Victor D. Cleofe

Good Shepherd Academy

Mr. Nuriel L. Lagutom

School Year 2021-2022

I. Title Page

II. Table of Contents

III. Abstract 1

IV. Introduction 2

A. Background of the Study 2

B. Statement of the Problem 3

C. Significance of the Study 4

D. Scope and Limitation 4

V. Review of Related Literature 5

VI. Materials and Methods 7

VII. Results and Discussion 9

VIII. Conclusion 11

IX. Recommendation 12

X. Bibliography 13

XI. Appendices 14

A. Materials 14

B. Procedure 15

C. Sample Products 17

XII. Acknowledgement 18

R.V.D.C
 Abstract

The purpose of conducting this study is to know if the coconut

core can be made into a handicraft. The researcher first gathered

coconut husks from San Isidro, Victoria, Oriental Mindoro. The

coconut husk was filled by hand. The fiber/husk were dried out in

the sun.

A 1 kilo coconut coir was produced. For production of

compression molded from whole coconut husk the auto – adhesive

properties were derived from the intrinsic lignin content. Husk of

different varieties and maturity have been investigated for their

contents of fiber and pith. Relevant physical properties and

chemical composition were determined. For accurate determination

of tensile strength and stiffness of coir fiber, its density ( ρcoir

= 1.2 – 1.3 g/cm³) and cross – sectional area were determined. Both

thickness and longitudinal swelling of the fiber were measured to

assess the effects of water absorption.

Based from the result, the researcher concludes that the

approximate amount of coconut husk coir produced different

handicrafts. The researcher also conclude that the coconut coir

has effective as substitute for our commercial products. More

effects can be expected from the age of coconut.

1
 INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Ropes and cordage have been made from coconut fiber since

ancient times. Indian navigators who sailed the seas to

Malaya, Java, China, and the Gulf of Arabia centuries ago

used coir for their ship ropes. Arab writers of the 11th

century AD referred to the extensive use of coir for ship

ropes and rigging.

A coir industry in the UK was recorded before the second

half of the 19th century. During 1840, Captain Widely, in

cooperation with Captain Logan and Mr. Thomas Treloar and

Sins in Ludgate Hill, England for the manufacture of coir

into various fabrics suitable for floor coverings.

Coir fibers are found between the hard, internal shell

and the outer coat of a coconut. The individual fiber cells

are narrow and hollow, with thick walls made of cellulose.

They are pale when immature, but later become hardened and

yellowed as a layer of lignin is deposited on their walls.

Each cell is about 1 mm (0.04 in.) long and 10 to 20 μm

(0.0004 to 0.0008 in.) in diameter. Fibers are typically 10

to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 in.) long. The two varieties of

coir are brown and white. Brown coir harvested from fully

ripened coconut is thick, strong and has high abrasion

2
 resistance. It is typically used in mats, brushes and sacking.

Mature brown coir fibers contain more lignin and less

cellulose than fiber such as flax and cotton, so are stronger

but less flexible. They are generally spun to make yarn in

mats and rope.

Researchers at CSIR’s National Institute for Inter

disciplinary Science and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram

have developed a biological process for the extraction of

coir fiber from coconut husk without polluting the

environment.

B. Statement of the Problem

General

This study intends to determine the strength and

stiffness of coconut coir that can make a handicraft.

Specific

a. What is the significance difference of coconut coir fiber

to traditional materials in terms of

1. Texture

2. Color

3. Strength

Hypothesis

Handicrafts made from Coconut Coir Fiber will perform

better on the market than the outnumbered rattan products.

3
C. Significance of the Study

The significance of this study lies on its potentiality

to the community where the researcher belongs because of

massive production of coconuts.

Since this study aims to prove the efficacy of the coconut

coir fiber as handicraft, this might be great contribution in

the field of agriculture and research in knowing the other

remarkable uses of the said fruit in agriculture.

D. Scope and Limitation

This study aims to determine the efficacy of coconut coir

fiber as handicraft and to help the community to produce

handicraft using coconut coir fiber.

The respondents of this study were from the Good Shepherd

Academy community. They were selected regardless of their

age, and occupation. The researcher made a self-made

questionnaire. Respondents were tasked to check the

appropriate box according to the texture, color and strength

of the product. Data Gathering was performed during the first

week of February.

4
 Review of Related Literature

This chapter presents the related literature and

related studies that w o u l d help the current study to

c o m e u p w i t h a c o m p r e h e n s i v e supporting studies. There

have been studies that focuses on the main components of the

study which are the coconut husk and sawdust.

Related Literature

Coir or Coconut fiber comes from the outer shell of

coconut. It is extracted from the outer shell of coconut and has

been used from different products. Coir is the fibrous

material that is found between the hard internal shell of

husk and the outer coat of the shell. Coir is very rot -

resistant, materials that are used in industrial manufacturing.

Dark brown

coir and white coir are types of coir depending on the

maturity of the coconut. The Dark brown coir comes from

familiar mature coconuts while the white coir comes from

immature and green coconuts and it is a coir that is softer and

finer. Coconut fiber is available by dehusking between skin and

shell. These are multi-cellular, lignocellulosic, hard, a very

coarse, and rigid variety of natural fruit fiber. Its advantages

are agro-renewability, biodegradability and a good blend of

5
strength, length, extensibility, moisture regain, and high

durability or resistance against sunlight, saline water,

microbes, etc. The unfavorable attributes of coconut fiber are

its coarse nature, variable l e ng th an d fi ne n es s, so m ew ha t

s t if f a nd h ar sh n atu r e. Ph ys ic a l a nd mechanical

properties of coconut fiber ar e compared with two allied

popular lignocellulosic fibers viz., jute and sisal. Moreover,

fine structure and chemical properties have also been

described. (Basu and Sengupta, 2016)

6
 Materials and Methods

The purpose of this chapter is to present in a simple

and direct manner what has been done, risk and safety, when

and how the idea were analyzed and presented. The disposal is

also included in this chapter.

A. Materials

The materials needed for the handicraft is the coconut

husk for producing coconut coir fiber. The equipment to

produce coconut coir fiber are knife for the removal of

coconut husk. Glue for combining the clean coconut coir fiber.

B. Procedure

1. Gather all the coconut husk from the backyard.

2. Remove the coconut coir fiber in the coconut husk.

3. Remove all the coco peat from the coconut coir fiber using

the hammer.

4. Wash the coconut coir fiber using clean water twice.

5. Dry the coconut fiber under the sunlight or about 1 day

until it is ultimately dry.

How to make the Handicraft

1. Arrange the coconut fiber according to their sizes.

7
 2. Put together all the coconut coir fiber with the use of

glue.

3. Dry the coconut coir fiber.

4. Connect the end of each coconut coir fiber to one another

to produce a long rope.

5. After connecting all the coconut coir fiber, make a

handicraft of your choice.

C. Disposal

The predominance use of coconut husks is in direct

combustion in order to make charcoal, otherwise husks are

simply thrown away. Coconut husks can be transformed into a

value-added fuel source which can replace wood and other

traditional fuel sources. Coconut shells can be made into

lamps, earrings, buttons, and more. Since it was trash, to

begin with, don’t be afraid to experiment. If all else fails,

these shells make great firewood

8
 Results and Discussion

Table 1 : Texture

Smooth Rough

Texture 15

Total 15

The table 1 shows about the texture. Respondents says the

texture of the product is rough.

Table 2 : Color

Dark Brown Light Brown

Color 9 6

Total 9 6

The table 2 shows about the color. Out of 15 respondents, 9

says that the color of the products are dark brown while the

remaining 6 says light brown.

9
Table 3 : Strength

5 4 3 2 1

Excellent Very Satisfactory Very Good

Satisfactory Good

Strength 2 6 4 3

TOTAL 2 6 4 3

Table 3 shows about the strength. Out of 15 respondents,

2 says that the strength of the product is excellent, 6 says very

satisfactory, 4 respondents says satisfactory and 3 respondents

says very good.

All in all coconut coir fiber in terms of texture, color

and strength is effective for creating handicrafts.

10
 Conclusion

Coconut coir is used in various products, such as for

agriculture, a mixture of planting media or as horticultural grow

bags, in addition, coconut coir is used as bags, sacks, ropes,

mats, handicrafts, mats. There are also those who use coconut coir

waste as industrial fuel, and the need for cooking fuel in

households, but this becomes pollution and damages the clean air

we breathe because of the increase in carbon dioxide and can damage

the lungs and climate change. To reduce the waste of used sacks

made from coconut coir , ideas and ideas are needed to use them as

a medium for work. Utilization of waste coconut coir sacks into

hadicrafts and eco friendly media is one answer in reducing waste

that pollutes the environment and air due to burning. There are

many movements in the use of coconut coir, but this research

focuses on reducing the waste of used sacks made from coconut coir.

The results showed that handicrafts made from coconut husk sacks

had stretch strength, was more durable, thick, not moldy and free

of bacteria, and was very effective and inexpensive compared to

conventional handicrafts made of natural, even entirely indigenous

materials.

11
 Recommendation

It is recommended by the researcher to do the following to

prove the efficacy of coconut coir fiber as an alternative material

for handicrafts.

1. It is suggested by the researcher to be ready and prepare to

spend too much time for the product making and testing.

2. Perform complete market demand scouting for the production of

the product,

3. Determine the life span of the product.

4. Make a comparison of products made by coconut coir fiber and

products made by the traditional materials.

12
 Bibliography

[1] Chambers, R. (1995). Poverty and Livelihood: Whose Reality

[2] Abundo, B. C. (2013). Agriculture Management [Powepoint

[3] Morrison, K. (2011). Cocout Plant, Question for Properties.

[3] Cruz. I. (2014, January 9) Why coconut strong. The Philippine

[4] Dam J E G V 1998 Improvement in Drying, Softening, Bleaching,

[5] Grinwood B E 1960 coconut palm products: Their processing in

[6] Banzon J A and Velasco J R 1982 Coconut Production and

13
 Appendices

Materials

Coconut Husk Knife

Glue

14
Procedure

15
16
Sample Product

17
 Acknowledgement

The researcher would like to appreciate his family members

for their support financially and otherwise for being there in the

course of study, his friends, and relatives, to his research

teacher for the assistance and academic aspect and to all the

respondents for the realization of the research work.

Above all, this research would not be complete without giving

thanks and adoration to the Almighty God for His divine health,

provision, and knowledge He has granted the researcher throughout

the study in Good Shepherd Academy of Victoria Inc., Victoria,

Oriental Mindoro, Philippines.

R.V.D.C

18