EQUO - Sản phẩm thân thiện môi trường, hoàn toàn không chứa nhựa (Hành động nhỏ, Thay đổi lớn)

I'm Marina, Founder and CEO of EQUO. My journey started when I first moved to Vietnam to help my parents. It was a big change from what I was used to, being born and raised in Canada and living there my entire life. I came to Vietnam without any friends, and so I visited a lot of coffee shops (which the country is known for due to being one of the largest exporters of coffee in the world). That’s where I discovered for the first time, this green item in my drink, and it turned out to be a grass straw. I was surprised, delighted, but more so than anything, curious. My curiosity led to research about the natural resources in abundance in Vietnam, and that is really what opened me up to this whole world of sustainable alternatives that I never knew existed. Inspired by great products from Vietnam natural resources, combine with my dream wanted to build a brighter future for next generation by solving plastic pollution problems and help create jobs in my parents' home country of Vietnam, I started EQUO in early 2020.

EQUO delivers 100% plastic-free and compostable solutions to replace single-use plastic.  We're starting off with drinking straws made out of natural materials you can actually spell: grass, rice, coconut, sugarcane, and coffee.  Our products decompose in months, not centuries.  They are so easy to use and so convenient to switch to. You don't have to change your lifestyle or behavior - no washing, no carrying around.  And they help to promote a circular economy by diverting waste from landfills in order to produce them.  Now you can use it once, throw it away - without any of the worries and none of the guilt.

Our new innovation - sugarcane utensils are made from the residual sugarcane fibers (bagasse) from the sugarcane plant, after it has been squeezed of its sugarcane juice. It is then used to create our sustainable, disposable cutlery which is 100% plastic-free, biodegradable and compostable.

Besides, we also offer a Sustainable gift set for corporate in Vietnam which includes 3 types of our straws, 1 tote bag, 1 ceramic cup, and 5 plantable pencils.

In the past year, we have won certain achievements: 

SME100 Fast Moving Companies in Asia award

An Amazon Launchpad Women-Owned Business

Vegpreneur's 25 Vegan Companies You Need to Know

Member of the Plastic Pollution Coalition

2021 appearance in Shark Tank

2021 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards 

GOLD for Innovation in Consumer Products

GOLD for Innovation in Energy & Sustainability

SILVER for Most Innovative Startup of the Year - Consumer Product Industries

EQUO also has big customers and strategic partners both in Vietnam and the international market:

EQUO also catch the attention of publishers, KOLs all over the world

In near future, EQUO will continue to develop new products lines to complete our ecosystem of eco-friendly kitchenware items, such as cups, bowls, food containers made from sugarcane fiber,  and start with a new category - eco-friendly stationery.