AirX Carbon turns coffee grounds, rice and coconut husks into bioplastic

Anh Duong, a climate tech enthusiast, noticed that farm by-products like coffee grounds and rice and coconut husks ended up in landfills in agricultural regions like the Mekong Delta in his home country Vietnam. It occurred to him that repurposing these materials into valuable products would not only help manage these wastes but also reduce carbon emissions.

“We saw an opportunity to innovate within the plastic industry by creating biomaterials from renewable sources. Thus, AirX Carbon was born,” he tells e27.

Also Read: Coffeefrom: Brewing sustainability from bean to product

Founded in 2020 by Duong and Thanh Le, AirX Carbon makes carbon-negative materials from agricultural by-products (mainly coffee grounds, rice husks, and coconut husks). It works closely with local communities and international organisations (NGOs) to source biowaste materials and then turns them into useful products.

The production process involves converting the wastes into bio-based polymers, which are then pelletised using environmentally friendly manufacturing techniques to create carbon-negative biomaterials.

AirX provides two types of bioplastics. The first type is used for multiple uses and applications, such as shoe soles, electronic devices, household appliances, and furniture. These are designed to be recycled after the product life cycle has ended.

The second type is designed to biodegrade more rapidly, often within two years under suitable conditions, reducing their environmental impact.

“Through innovative material science and engineering, we ensure that our biomaterials offer comparable strength, durability, and performance to traditional plastic, making them suitable for various industrial applications,” he claims.

Priced on a par with traditional plastic

AirX Carbon’s products are cost-comparable with fossil-based plastics. This has been possible due to the low production costs; the locally available, cheap and abundant biomass materials minimise input material costs and reduce reliance on imported raw materials.

The climate-tech startup has also developed advanced formulae and manufacturing techniques that efficiently convert agricultural waste into bio-based polymers using less energy. The company plans to leverage economies of scale and volume to drive down production costs as demand for sustainable alternatives to fossil-based plastics continues to grow.

AirX primarily targets the packaging, consumer goods, and footwear industries with its products. It also explores opportunities to develop bio-based products for the textile, construction, and toy industries.

Expanding production capacity

AirX Carbon has set up a production facility in Long An Province (Mekong Delta) with a production capacity of 100 tons per month. It plans to increase the capacity to 500 tons of biomaterials/month in 2025 to meet the demand of ongoing customers. This will allow the venture to meet the rising demand for its biomaterial products across various industries.

The firm collaborates with waste management companies and brand owners to create a circular bio-economy for plastics through various initiatives, such as:

• Supply chain integration: AirX Carbon works closely with waste management companies to source biowaste materials, such as agricultural and forestry by-products, for its biomaterials production. By integrating these materials into its supply chain, the company ensures a steady and sustainable source of raw materials.
• Strategic partnerships: It forms strategic partnerships with brand owners and manufacturers to co-develop and commercialise bio-based plastic products. These partnerships often involve joint R&D efforts, as well as shared investments in production facilities and distribution networks.

“We will also establish strategic partnerships with suppliers, distributors, and manufacturers to optimise its supply chain and distribution network. By collaborating with industry leaders and experts, we can access additional resources, expertise, and markets to support its growth trajectory,” Duong remarks.

Also Read: Why ‘Iron Man’ star placed a bet on Singapore’s biodegradable plastic startup RWDC Industries

How does the company measure the environmental impact of its products compared to traditional plastics? “We employ comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies to measure the environmental impact of our products. Through LCA, we evaluate various environmental indicators, such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation, across the entire life cycle of its products, from raw material sourcing to end-of-life disposal.”

“The LCA results enable AirX Carbon to quantitatively assess the environmental performance of its biomaterials products and identify areas for improvement,” he shares.

AirX Carbon was one of the three startups that won the inaugural Net Zero Challenge 2023, a climate innovations competition in Vietnam by Touchstone Partners and Temasek Foundation. The firm is in the market to raise US$2 million in seed financing from VCs and impact investors. By diversifying its funding sources, the company aims to reduce reliance on any single source of capital and increase financial resilience.

Amidst the rice fields and coconut plantations of Mekong Delta, Anh Duong saw not waste, but opportunity. With plans to scale production and expand partnerships, AirX Carbon is poised to lead the charge towards a circular bio-economy.
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The article was first published on March 20, 2024

The post AirX Carbon turns coffee grounds, rice and coconut husks into bioplastic appeared first on e27.