Nxplorers Case Studies Philippines

R E I M AG INE C OR N
H US KS A S E C O -F R IEN D LY
PAC K AG IN G
NXplorers students in the University of San Carlos
in the Philippines developed a method to repurpose
corn husks and convert them into bioplastic, helping
to solve the increasing problem of waste and plastic
pollution in one of the country’s largest and most
highly populated cities, Cebu City.
#makethefuture
Philippines
REIMAGINE CORN HUSKS AS ECO -FRIENDLY PACK AGING
Waste management is one of the most pressing issues facing REFRAME THE PROBLEM
the world today. For highly progressive and heavily populated
The students saw their local
areas, like Cebu City, the use of plastic has aggravated this
community’s growing waste
problem. Studies show that by the year 2050, the amount of management problem, which was
plastic will surpass the number of fish in the world’s oceans, caused mainly by the massive use of
with a ratio of at least 1:1, which inherently endangers our non-biodegradable plastic and
water supply. aggravated by the additional corn
husk waste from corn production.
Meanwhile, corn, a widely produced crop in the region used in Instead of discarding this waste, they
decided to use it as the main material
both the food and feeds industry, adds to the waste problem.
for their zero-waste approach to a
Each year, 4.4 million tonnes of corn waste is discarded and global problem.
thrown away from corn production.
REINVENT BIOPLASTICS
NXplorers students from the University of San Carlos saw an
opportunity to develop a local and sustainable solution to this The NXplorers students harnessed
the fiber from corn husk waste and
ever-growing global waste problem. They took abundant and
combined it with another locally
readily available resources in their community – waste corn
available organic material: seaweed,
husks and seaweed – to produce bioplastic, a biodegradable or ‘guso’ in local dialect. The
version of the current plastics commonly used for packaging. carrageenan component of the
seaweed acts as the binding and
Students used NXthinking and the NXplorers toolkit, a set of emulsifying agent that helps create a
tools and methodologies that help students think critically and bioplastic that degrades much faster
creatively. These are the steps they followed… than commercial plastics used as
Philippines
REIMAGINE CORN HUSKS AS ECO -FRIENDLY PACK AGING
packaging. Both components in

making this are locally sourced with
CONCLUSION
almost zero to minimal cost. This project started with a
waste management problem
RETHINK WASTE in the local community, but
MANAGEMENT IN THE expanded to help solve
PHILIPPINES problems of plastic dependency
and water pollution. This
This new corn husk and seaweed- project contributes to the UN
based bioplastic offers an accessible SDGs 3, 6, 11, 12, 13 and 14.
and localized way to slowly replace
commercial plastics. With its natural
and degradable properties, this
alternative poses no threat to the
environment and contributes to the This new corn husk and
country’s sustainability efforts.
Promoting the use of natural
seaweed-based
alternatives would decrease the bioplastic offers an
demand for non-biodegradable accessible and localized
plastics and help ease the pollution
challenges facing local communities
way to slowly replace
today. Globally, it could pave the way commercial plastics
to ending plastic dependency and
prioritizing more sustainable solutions
to waste management instead.
HOW THIS PROJECT CONTRIBUTES TO THE UN SDGS
3. Good health and 13. Climate action

well-being Take urgent action to
Ensure healthy lives and combat climate change
promote well-being for and its impacts
all at all ages
14. Life below water
6. Clean water and Conserve and sustainably
sanitation use the oceans, seas and
Ensuring access to water marine resources for
and sanitation for all sustainable development
11. Sustainable cities

and communities
Make cities and human
settlements inclusive,
safe, resilient and
sustainable
12. Responsible
consumption and
production
Ensuring sustainable
consumption and
production patterns

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R E I M AG INE C OR N

packaging. Both components in

HOW THIS PROJECT CONTRIBUTES TO THE UN SDGS

3. Good health and 13. Climate action

11. Sustainable cities

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