With nearly three million tons of plastic waste created every year, the Philippines is one of the largest contributors in terms of per-capital waste generation. Unfortunately, an estimated 20 percent of this waste ends up in the ocean.
Do-It-Yourself Ideas for Packaging:
A. DIY Package Cushion (Alternative for bubble wrap and Styrofoam)
Bubble wrap and Styrofoam are popular in the packaging industry, and their use as protective packaging has made them the most well-known form of packaging worldwide. Although it is made from plastic that is not biodegradable, customers' awareness of environmental issues has led to an increased interest in products packaged in biodegradable materials
Materials you can use:
Any kind of paper (newspaper, magazine, Japanese paper, or used paper) Scissors
1. Shredded paper filler
First step: Fold the paper of your choice into thirds vertically.
Second step: Start cutting the paper on the fold in thin strips with scissors.
Third step: Separate out/unfold all the paper shreds.
2. Honeycomb wrap
First step: Fold the paper of your choice in half then fold it on both sides 8 times horizontally
Second step: Start cutting the top and bottom of the paper. The distance should be 5cm.
Third step: Separate out/unfold the paper.
B. DIY Package Bag (Alternative for plastic bags and pouch)
Plastic bags are a threat to the environment. They take many years to decompose, release toxic substances into the soil when they perish under sunlight and cause ambient air pollution when burned
Materials you can use:
Any kind of paper (newspaper, magazine, Japanese paper or used paper)
Abaca rope
Hole puncher
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
Glue
Tape
1. Paper Bag
First step: Measure the paper of your choice with a ruler to 9.5 x 15 inches (24 x 38 cm). If your paper is short in size, attach it to the paper and glue it together then cut the paper.
Second step: To make the bottom of your bag, fold the bottom edge up 2 inches (5 cm) and sharply crease it. Unfold it when you’re done.
Third step: Locate the center points of the top and bottom edges of your paper by either using a ruler or folding it in half. Mark three points: one at the center of each edge (top and bottom).
Fourth step: Maintaining a landscape orientation, bring the short sides together as though you were folding the whole thing in half. Lightly mark the spots where each long side will be folded. Then, mark 3.5 inches (9.5 cm) to both the left and right of each center point.
Fifth step: Fold the sides of the bag into place, aligning them with the center pencil line. Bring the right edge of the paper to meet the center pencil line and fold. Repeat on the opposite side. Flip the paper over and fold the left and right sides downward toward the center, gluing where they overlap. Maintain the same folds as before—but note that folds will be inverted when you look at it from this side. Let the glue dry completely before continuing.
Sixth step: Now fold the bag, with the glued side down, so that one of the open sides is pointing toward you. Then make the sides of the bag into accordion pleats so that when you open it up, it will be rectangular.
Seventh step: Using a ruler, measure inwards 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) from the left-hand side of the paper bag. Mark this distance with your pencil. Press-fold the paper down so that the pencil mark lines up with the new folded edge. Keep top and bottom edges symmetrical as you press the paper down.
Eighth step: To fold a bag, first look for the crease lines you folded previously. Fold the bag 4 inches (10 cm) up from the bottom and crease it along this line. The inward-flaring creases should pop open, forming a square edge. Inside, you should see a triangle of folded paper on either side.
Ninth step: To create the bag, fold a few sides to the center, using their triangular shape to ensure the bottom of the bag is evenly put together. Fold up the top and bottom sides of the open square-shaped bottom completely down. The bottom of the bag should now have eight sides like an elongated octagon instead of four like it had before. Use the outermost edge of each interior triangle as a guide for folding the bottom. Glue where needed and let dry.
Tenth step: To make your bag, first close off the bottom of the bag with glue. Once the glue has dried completely, punch holes into the bag where you want your handles to be and attach them with abaca rope or paper-made handle (you can leave your bag as is without handles.).
