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Technical and Economic Feasibility of Using Bamboo for Pulp and Papermaking in the Philippines: A Case Study

Author : Lagrada, Maricar Balante
Major Adviser : Razal, Ramon A.
Committee Members : Guerrero, Gino Apollo M.; Bataller, Butch G.; Taghap, Kem M.
Year : 2020
Month : July
Type : Thesis
Degree: BS
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Abstract

The demand for paper in the country has increased in the past few years which has led to the search for other sources of paper pulp in the Philippines. This study aims to analyze the feasibility of using bamboo as an alternative source of pulp for papermaking. It was determined that certain species of Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Phyllostachys, and Melocanna, where they are available, can be used to make paper pulp by undergoing Kraft pulping, and ECF bleaching, if necessary. It was also shown that a bamboo pulp and paper mill constructed at an initial cost of 7.247 million PhP and which could produce 50,000 tons of paper a year could sell at least 1.75 billion pesos annually. It was also suggested that a bamboo pulp and paper plant can establish its own bamboo plantations in idle lands in the country to ensure supply. Constructing a fully integrated bamboo pulp and paper plant was found to need more than a hundred billion peso capital, but it also provides benefits such as giving employment, and developing both the bamboo and the pulp and paper industries in the country. It was concluded that using bamboo as alternative source of pulp in the country is indeed technologically and economically feasible.

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