Eco-grow paper: development of recycled seed paper for sustainable and zero-waste applications

Eco-grow paper is developed as a sustainable solution to address excessive paper waste, particularly from educational institutions, while mitigating environmental impacts associated with conventional paper production, including deforestation, waste accumulation and chemical pollution. This study presents the development of recycled seed paper incorporated with natural additives; cornstarch as a binder and aloe vera gel (AVG) as a flexibility-enhancing agent. Four formulations were prepared using different cornstarch-to-AVG ratios (1:2, 3:2, 1:1 and 2:3). Recycled paper pulp was produced from wastepaper, cast into sheets and embedded with Tagetes erecta (Marigold) seeds before drying under controlled conditions. The resulting seed paper was evaluated for its thickness, tensile strength, tear resistance and germination potential. The produced paper exhibited a thickness range of 0.20 mm – 0.40 mm. Mechanical testing showed that formulations with balanced or moderate cornstarch content demonstrated higher tensile strength, while samples with higher AVG content showed improved tear resistance due to enhanced flexibility. Germination analysis confirmed that all formulations supported seed viability with minor variations observed across compositions. Overall, variation in cornstarch and AVG composition enables tuning of both mechanical performance and environmental functionality. Eco-grow paper presents a promising zero-waste material that not only reduces reliance on virgin resources but also promotes environmental regeneration through post-use plant growth.