Should Variegated American Agave Century Succulent Cardstock Replace Current Cardstock?

Overview

This project investigates whether cardstock made from the Variegated American Agave Century Succulent (VAACS) should replace traditional tree-based cardstock. My hypothesis is that VAACS cardstock will have a higher tensile and grams per square meter (GSM) strength. Currently, roughly 95 trees are cut down every second for paper production, leading to rapid deforestation, specifically for paper production which is estimated to be 35% of the trees cut down. VAACS grows quickly, requires less land use than trees, and contains strong cellulose fibers, making it a potentially sustainable alternative. I surveyed tree growth and VAACS growth rates, along with the space each plant occupies in cubic feet. VAACS cardstock was then produced using a process of cutting, boiling, and forming sheets with a mould and deckle, and drying. The eight resulting sheets were compared to typical tree-based cardstock sold in stores in tensile strength, GSM, and material efficiency. These results showed that VAACS had higher tensile strength, maintained a stronger GSM, and required less material to produce. These findings indicate that VAACS fibers are stronger, more efficient, and more sustainable than traditional wood fibers. In conclusion, Variegated American Agave Century Cardstock is a viable alternative to current cardstock sold at stores. Its rapid growth, smaller space requirements, and durable fibers suggest it could help reduce deforestation and negative environmental impact while providing a reliable material for paper products.

Competition history

• CSEF 2026 Environmental Engineering (Junior Division) · Entry J-11-45

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