Utilization Of Cogon Grass Waste As Biofoam For Styrofoam Substitute

Currently, styrofoam is one of the most widely used disposable containers in Indonesia. The main ingredient of styrofoam is polystyrene, which contains carcinogens, or substances, compounds, as well as any conditions that have the potential to cause cancer by damaging DNA in the body's cells and disrupting cellular biological processes. Therefore, styrofoam is difficult to decompose and can increase the amount of plastic waste in Indonesia. Hence, there is a need for an alternative to styrofoam that can be easily decomposed One environmentally friendly substitute for styrofoam is biofoam. Biofoam is made from natural materials and is biodegradable. A promising raw material for biofoam is cogongrass waste, a potentially dangerous weed. Tests on biofoam show that it is easily biodegradable, resistant to oil for 24 hours and water for more than 5 minutes. This research has resulted in an innovation that aims to reduce the use of styrofoam in Indonesia and encourage the use of biofoam.