Feasibility of Developing Eco-Friendly Paper Packaging from Cardamom Waste Fiber: A Case Study of Ban Plai Khlong Community Enterprise, Chanthaburi

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the feasibility of utilizing waste stems and leaves of cardamom, a byproduct from the food processing of Ban Plai Khlong Community Enterprise in Chanthaburi, for paper packaging development. This approach serves to add value to agricultural waste and mitigate air pollution from open burning. The effects of two primary factors, namely fiber length (short and long) and molding pressure (1000, 1500, and 2000 psi), were investigated. The cardamom fibers were pre-treated with sodium hydroxide solution for delignification before being crushed and sorted by size. Subsequently, the paper sheets were formed using a hot press machine. The prepared samples were evaluated for grammage according to ISO 536 and water absorption according to ISO 8787. Additionally, the tensile strength was tested following the ASTM D828 standard. The results revealed that both fiber size and molding pressure significantly influenced the paper’s properties. Specifically, paper sheets made from long fibers under high molding pressure exhibited the highest average tensile strength of 347.33 kPa, which was markedly higher than those of short fibers due to superior fiber interlocking. Conversely, short fibers resulted in higher grammage and water absorption. Furthermore, increasing the molding pressure led to an increase in grammage, water absorption, and maximum tensile strength. This study demonstrates that cardamom fibers possess high potential for cardboard production, offering a sustainable and effective approach for community waste management.