The journey of turning straw into paper by a group of female students at a specialized school

2(3).jpg — Students from the straw-based paper-making group at Nguyen Binh Khiem Specialized High School. Photo: PHAN VINH

Passion for research

Driven by their concern for plastic waste and single-use plastic bags, two female students, Le Thanh Ngan (Computer Science major) and Pham An Nhien (Physics major) from Nguyen Binh Khiem High School for the Gifted, came up with the idea of making biodegradable paper from straw, a material with a high cellulose content, which is very suitable for papermaking.

Both of them spent a lot of time reading documents on the Internet, researching the properties of materials, processing procedures, and searching for solutions that could be applied on a school laboratory scale.

3(3).jpg — Students are performing the process of grinding straw to separate its cellulose component. Photo: PHAN VINH

Pham An Nhien shared: "Initially, we tried researching materials like sugarcane bagasse and corn stalks, but realized these materials were already being used as animal feed. Meanwhile, straw hasn't been fully utilized yet, but it still contains a high amount of cellulose that helps create bonds between molecules to form the structure of paper. From there, we decided to experiment with making paper with straw."

To complete the research, the two students invited Tran Nha Linh (a student in the specialized Biology class), who is currently the Vice President of the school's Environmental Club, to join them. With a strong background in biology, Nha Linh made a significant contribution to the analysis and improvement of the paper production process from straw, aiming to achieve high adhesion, smoothness, and applicability.

1(4).jpg — The team members conducted numerous experiments to produce a product that met the desired quality standards. Photo: PHAN VINH

“We have to collect dry straw from the fields, soften it, and then grind it into a paste. After that, we mix it with water and put it into molds to shape it according to the type of paper. The binder is entirely based on the natural cellulose found in straw. The resulting product can be used for bags, envelopes, file covers, greeting cards, and can also be used for crafting to add a personal touch,” Nha Linh shared.

In addition to focusing on the raw material processing process, the team also created the slogan "Straw spreads joy - Straw spreads a green lifestyle" as a message to everyone about an environmentally friendly lifestyle.

[ VIDEO ] - The research team shares the process of forming the idea to turn straw into paper:

The entire research and development process for the product was carried out by the students over approximately three months, from the end of July to October 2024, with hundreds of trials. The product won first prize in the High School Startup Idea Competition organized by the Department of Education and Training of Quang Nam province (formerly) in 2024. In 2025, they continued to win the Encouragement Prize in the Quang Nam Startup Talent Search Competition.

Spreading the message of green living

Paper products made from straw are not only the result of a student project but are also considered to have high potential for practical application. According to the research team, within the current framework, each bag measuring 20x10cm sells for approximately 15,000 VND, which is 2-5,000 VND higher than products made from industrial paper on the market.

However, if mass-produced using industrial equipment, the cost could be halved. With a production rate of 400kg of finished paper per ton of straw, expanding production is entirely feasible if a partner investor can be found.

4(3).jpg — Paper products made from straw can be crafted into environmentally friendly bags, greeting cards, envelopes, and more. Photo: PHAN VINH

Currently, the team is exploring the possibility of expanding the product to include biodegradable printing papers or packaging materials, combined with waterproof coatings to increase durability.

One of the notable features is that these paper products can be easily personalized, suitable for gift-giving, souvenirs, and high-quality handcrafted stationery.

The startup projects that reached the finals this year include many generations of high school and university students. Photo: PHAN VINH — Participants in the Quang Nam Province Startup Talent Search 2025 competition. Photo: PHAN VINH

Le Thanh Ngan said: "Currently, we are still students, so we don't have the capacity to invest in large-scale production. But we always hope to find a business or partner to commercialize this product. Most importantly, we want to spread the message that the environment is being severely damaged by plastic waste and that we need alternative solutions from nature."

Dr. Le Thi Lanh, a chemistry teacher at Nguyen Binh Khiem High School for the Gifted, said that when assigned to mentor the students, she noticed that the product had taken shape but still needed many improvements in terms of chemical properties and application. She guided them in adjusting the ratio of solvents and raw materials for better results, increasing paper strength and improving water resistance by adding chitosan derived from shrimp shells.

[VIDEO] - Dr. Le Thi Lanh shares about the project to turn straw into paper by a group of students:

"
The students were very proactive, researching from various online sources and conducting experiments; however, the chemical principles needed to be optimized under real-world laboratory conditions. The final result was a paper product with better smoothness, more vibrant colors, and significantly reduced production time."
Dr. Le Thi Lanh

Source: https://baodanang.vn/hanh-trinh-bien-rom-thanh-giay-cua-nhom-nu-sinh-truong-chuyen-3297160.html