Dubbed the “Bean to Bar” initiative, the project will run through 2026 and promote circular economy practices in Vietnam’s agri-food sector. The European Union is providing $2.16 million for the project, which will span several of Vietnam’s major coca-growing provinces.
Vietnam’s cocoa industry generates about 50,000 metric tons of cocoa husks annually. To date, this waste has successfully been converted into polypropylene (Cocoa-PP) and polylactic acid (Cocoa-PLA).
“The project is not only tackling plastic pollution but also providing a solution for agricultural waste,” said Le Thanh, CEO of AirX Carbon. “By incorporating up to 51 percent agricultural waste, these bioplastics reduce reliance on fossil fuels and offer a greener alternative to conventional plastic materials.”