A Project feasibility study on the manufacture of biodegradable drinking straw from tapioca starch / by Eugene E. Baybay and Bee-Jay L. Javier.

Design Project (BS Industrial Engineering) Cavite State University

Includes bibliographical references.

College of Engineering and Information Technology (CEIT)

A study was conducted to present the viability and feasibility of producing a biodegradable drinking straw from tapioca starch to be supplied by Macrolite Corporation located in unit 808 West Tower, Philippine Stock Exchange Center, Exchange Road„ Ortigas Center, Pasig City, NCR, Philippines and the alternative suppliers are the Hua San Wan Foodmart, Inc. located at 673-679 Sta. Elena Street Binondo, Manila and the CPR Marketing, Inc. located at Cainta, Rizal. A business enterprise named EB Corporation, will be established to engaged in the production and manufacturing of high quality but biodegradable plastic drinking straw from tapioca starch.
The product name is BIOZIPP and to be established in 2008. The plant will be located in Manggahan, Gen, Trias, Cavite. Probable risk, including the socio-economic desirability and the peso contribution of the project to the target areas and community to which the project will be located were given consideration. Specifically, this study covered marketing, organization and management, technical, financial and the socio-economic aspects. BIOZIPP is composed of the following raw materials, tapioca starch, glycerol (food-grade) as plasticizer, and other additives such as colorants. BIOZIPP is a biodegradable drinking straw for tetra packed and bottled drinks for juice, soft drinks, soda, and bottled water.
The marketing aspects include the introduction of the new product, BIOZIPP. The product is new to the market because it uses a unique material, the tapioca starch which is biodegradable. Based on the demand and supply analysis, the product has an opportunity to enter the existing market and competition. There are only few manufacturer of drinking straws in the Philippines and almost all of them are non-biodegradable. The technical aspect presents the machineries and equipment to be used, such as plastic compounding machine, extruding set (single, 2 and 3 colored, tetra pack and flexible straw), and packaging machine (individual, single/big multi, tetra-pack, and flexible straw).
Included also in this part are processes for BIOZIPP drinking straw production, the plant location which is in Manggahan, Gen. Trias, Cavite. The plant schedule of the company is also included. On the organization and management aspect, EB Corporation will operate as a corporation. Included in the topic is the number of manpower with their respective job specifications. The financial aspect of the study includes the capital requirements of the project. It also includes the measures of liquidity, solvency, and profitability that show the expected income of the corporation. The socio- economic aspect, discusses the social acceptability and economic acceptability of the project.
The project will generate employment in the locality and other nearby municipalities. It will generate income to the local government. The community will derive revenue from the project mostly in the form of taxes. Finally, it has all the advantage to become socially acceptable because it is biodegradable which means it is environment friendly. The economic acceptability discusses the contribution of the project to the community. The project can act as sponsor to projects aimed in improving the living conditions of the community where it will be located as well the as the environmental project of the community as the project supports the earth friendly products. The findings of the study showed that the project is feasible and financially viable. Therefore it is highly recommended that the proposed project be implemented and be introduced as soon as possible.

Submitted to the University Library 06-02-2008 DP-270