Closing the loop
Waste Fiber¶
Working with the waste material from the natural Fibers processing is one of the challenges we have detected.
Use waste fiber to take advantage of the process, making it more circular and complete.
We can use the waste fibers to make Paper and its derivatives and to make Biomaterials, or biocomposites.
Using natural fiber waste to make paper is highly important because cellulose is one of the most abundant materials in the world. Paper can be produced from most parts of plants, especially the more fibrous parts. This method efficiently utilizes discarded natural material, resulting in a thick paper suitable for artistic works, packaging, and more. The color palette can be extensive, as we can use fibers in their natural color, bleach them, or dye them in desired shades. Additionally, using other plant parts, such as banana peels, allows us to obtain natural green hues from the plant.
Recipe and Workflow¶
From fiber to Paper¶
* Fiber waste
* Sodium Carbonate
* CarboxiMetilCelulose (CMC)
* Blender
* Embroidery hoops
* Filters
* Mixing bowl and tools
* Scissors
* Stainless steel pot (5 liters)
* Spatulas
* Two-L bottles for preparing and storing solutions
* Bucket
* Wood Spoon
* Straight sieves or
* Embroidery frame with tulle
* Bowl (twice bigger than the sieve or embroidery hoop)
* Scale
* Blender
* Electric stove
* Measure the Sodium alginate, glycerol and water and mix it.
* Measure the Calcium chloride and water and mix and put in a spray bottle.
* Spray the mould with Calcium chloride and then pour the Sodium alginate into the mold.
* Spray with Calcium chloride solution and wait for it to dry.
* After a day of few hours you can flip it and spray the other side, repeat until it hardens.
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Alginate paper¶
* 100 gr dried sisal fibers
* 200 ml Water
* 10g - 30g Glycerol
* Blender
* Embroidery hoops
* Filters
* Mixing bowl and tools
* Measure the Sodium alginate, glycerol and water and mix it.
* Measure the Calcium chloride and water and mix and put in a spray bottle.
* Spray the mould with Calcium chloride and then pour the Sodium alginate into the mold.
* Spray with Calcium chloride solution and wait for it to dry.
* After a day of few hours you can flip it and spray the other side, repeat until it hardens.