Le Thanh (left) and Duong Tiet Anh with pallet products made from coconut fiber and agricultural waste - Photo: CK
From agricultural waste such as coconut shells, rice husks, coffee husks, wood chips..., the pallets were created by a start-up to produce and research solutions to replace plastic with discarded agricultural waste, also an effort to contribute to solving the problems of plastic waste pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the plastic industry.
Mr. DUONG TIET ANH
When waste is enhanced in value with pallets made from coconut fiber
Two 8X Le Thanh and Duong Tiet Anh - founders of AirX Carbon - brought the idea to realize this product. Le Thanh is a chemistry student, combined with Duong Tiet Anh's business administration knowledge, helping AirX Carbon focus on green products.
Previously, the company has launched a number of products also from agricultural waste, coffee husks are environmentally friendly cups, mugs, knives, spoons, forks, combs ... After two years of research, the team of engineers at AirX Carbon researched, tested and finally launched pallet products from coconut fiber and agricultural waste from April 2024, meeting the requirements to be able to export to a number of countries with strict standards.
Ms. Bui Phuong Thao - project representative - said: "In August alone, we sold 20,000 products. By the end of this year, we expect to sell about 30,000 products each month. We are proud that this product is available in Australia, Switzerland, Japan, and Singapore."
But when they first launched, they hardly sold any. It was not until many places requested not to use wooden pallets due to deforestation that coconut fiber pallets gradually won the day. Usually, to make six wooden pallets, you need to cut down a tree. Or one plastic pallet costs about 10kg of virgin plastic. Not to mention the production process pollutes the environment.
Coconut fiber pallets help to deal with many types of waste, contributing to reducing environmental pollution and increasing farmers' income. "We buy coffee husks, and then the pallets we make are sold back to coffee production businesses to preserve finished coffee, which is considered a closed cycle," said Phuong Thao.
Positioning in the green economy
Duong Tiet Anh calculated that if 250 million trees were cut down every year, it would certainly have a significant impact on the ecosystem, and also bring disadvantages in the fight against global climate change. But that is the current situation happening to the traditional wooden pallet manufacturing industry every year.
NetZero Pallet has a flat structure used to fix goods when using pallet trucks or other transportation equipment. Mr. Le Thanh said that similar to traditional wooden pallets, coconut fiber pallets are 20% cheaper, and the stackable design helps save 70% of warehouse space and reduce 50% of transportation costs.
"It is important to practice circular economy, exploit the value of agricultural waste, avoid deforestation to exploit wood for pallets, and especially create new income streams for local farmers," said Le Thanh.
You buy coconut shells, coffee husks, cocoa husks from agricultural cooperatives or from traders. These waste products will be processed, mixed with adhesives before being put into the mold with high temperature and pressure. The process of processing waste products and adhesives with 100% natural biomass components, is researched to ensure the pallet's link structure can withstand up to 8 tons of goods.
Finished pallets delivered to customers, depending on the purpose of packaging, transporting, storing or protecting goods, can be reused many times. Especially at the end of their life cycle, they will be collected as organic waste that waste treatment plants can turn into fertilizer to provide nutrients for the soil.
Innovation Project
According to Director of the Youth Startup Support Center Nguyen Thi Dieu Hang, the NetZero Pallet project has excellently demonstrated the spirit of innovation and commitment to sustainable development that Start-up Wheel is aiming for.
By utilizing bio-waste materials from coconut fiber, the project not only solves environmental problems but also creates high-value products. The biodegradability and competitive price show great potential in replacing traditional pallets, contributing to reducing environmental impacts in the global supply chain.
"This result demonstrates the trend of developing green, sustainable solutions in the Vietnamese startup ecosystem, inspiring many other startups, promoting a wave of innovation for a more sustainable future," said Ms. Hang.
On September 18, the press conference of Tuoi Tre Start-up Award 2024 took place at the Tuoi Tre newspaper office. In the fifth season with the theme "Honoring green start-ups", the program aims to find inspiring start-up projects that have an impact on the community, expecting to witness the level of preparation and readiness to practice ESG in the projects that the start-ups bring together.
The program is accompanied by the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, the Business Startup Support Center (BSSC), the Ho Chi Minh City Young Entrepreneurs Association (YBA), the Vietnam Packaging Recycling Alliance (PRO Vietnam), the VinaCapital Foundation, the Vietnam Sales & Marketing Directors Club (CSMO Vietnam)... and a number of experts will participate in the evaluation board.
The program is accepting applications from projects, with a deadline of September 30 at the email address [email protected]. The gala program honoring promising startups is scheduled for November 2024 at the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Cultural House.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tuoi-tre-start-up-award-2024-pallet-tu-xo-dua-va-phe-pham-nong-nghiep-20240917221121413.htm
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