Bekasi, Indonesia -Five talented students from SMAS IT Al Binaa Islamic Boarding School have successfully developed an eco-friendly innovation that could help reduce global deforestation. Their project, titled "Corn Husk Removes Deforestation," explores how corn husks an abundant agricultural waste can be transformed into recycled paper as an alternative to conventional wood-based materials.
The team members, Ihsan Maulana Keandre, Arkharega Radithya Nararya Agustian, Muhammad Dendy Junsen Duovan, Dhevin Adelio Tamam, and Muhammad Rashid Rizwaan, were inspired by growing environmental concerns. According to the Forest Declaration Assessment (2024), Indonesia ranks second in the world for the highest rate of deforestation, with 1.18 million hectares of forest lost annually.
Corn husks are usually discarded after harvesting, yet they contain a significant amount of cellulose, the main structural component of traditional paper fibers. Through a series of simple processing steps cleaning, boiling, fiber grinding, molding, and drying---the students managed to convert corn husks into durable paper sheets.
In their experiment, the team used natural starch glue and small amounts of NaOH (caustic soda) to soften the fibers and improve bonding. The resulting paper has a natural yellowish-brown color, slightly coarse texture, and good flexibility---ideal for handicrafts and lightweight packaging.
The findings revealed that corn husk fibers can form strong interlinked networks, allowing the paper to maintain good tensile strength despite minimal chemical use. Although not as smooth as industrial paper, the product shows great potential for eco-friendly applications.
"Our goal was to create something useful from agricultural waste while supporting environmental conservation," said one team member. "This method can even be applied at a community level using simple household tools."
Beyond its environmental benefits, the innovation also promotes a circular economy turning waste into value-added products and creating new income opportunities for farmers and local entrepreneurs.
The team recommends further improvements to enhance paper quality, such as refining fiber processing techniques, using natural bleaching methods, and optimizing additives for smoother texture and greater durability.
This early-stage research has proven that corn husks can serve as a sustainable raw material for paper production, offering a creative, low-cost, and environmentally responsible alternative to wood-based paper.
