Ms. Hong 'loves trash'

Using discarded organic waste, Ms. Trinh Thi Hong in Da Nang has researched and created a multi-purpose, environmentally friendly biological product, while also providing employment for hundreds of disadvantaged women for nearly a decade.

I used to eat and sleep among garbage.

In stark contrast to the demeanor of a director or a scientist , Ms. Trinh Thi Hong, Director of Minh Hong Biotech Joint Stock Company in Da Nang City, is incredibly simple, cheerful, and down-to-earth. Unless asked carefully, few would guess that she only completed the 9th grade and is currently battling a terrible case of breast cancer.

Ms. Hong was born in 1965 into a poor family with 10 siblings, and she was orphaned at only 1 month and 8 days old. Her childhood was filled with hardship and struggle to make ends meet, which meant her education was cut short. After growing up and getting married, Ms. Hong worked as a factory worker and regularly participated in women's affairs in her local community.

Ms. Hong (in the blue shirt) is sharing her experience in composting organic waste with other women. PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

In 2011, when a garbage truck in Hoa Minh broke down for several days, leaving piles of garbage on the street emitting a foul odor, Ms. Hong began thinking about recycling organic waste. Later, she attended a training course at a conference on community development for impoverished communities in the Philippines and was captivated by the model of recycling organic waste into bio-products developed by Japanese women. Upon returning to Vietnam, she independently researched and learned how to transform organic waste into cleaning agents. For many long days, she ate and slept among garbage, passionately researching how to ferment and process waste into bio-products.

Ms. Hong said: "Even within my family, people tried to discourage me from researching waste. My husband even asked if I was crazy to do this, saying I should leave it to the scientists. But I thought it wasn't that difficult; many women around the world have already done it themselves, so I was determined to succeed."

The raw materials are leaves, vegetables, and fruits mixed with 10 kg of tap water and 300 grams of starch sugar, then fermented in a sealed container for one month. Afterward, a crude solution with an unpleasant odor is obtained, which needs to be fermented for about 45 days and then filtered, sterilized, and mixed with extracts of turmeric, eggplant, lemon, or soapberry to produce a dishwashing and floor cleaning solution that meets standards, cleans quickly, and smells good. "The formula of 3 parts sugar, 3 parts waste, and 10 parts water took me four years to find. My first product was 2T dishwashing liquid, which has the advantages of being gentle on hands, saving water, and having a suitable price," Ms. Hong shared.

Not resting on her laurels, Ms. Hong continued to upgrade her products to create more pleasant scents and remove residue. Currently, she has eight products, including floor cleaner, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, etc., with different fragrances. These products have been well-received and highly appreciated by women in Hong Minh ward, especially for their superior cleaning performance, gentleness on hands, and environmental friendliness. Furthermore, the bio-based products save water during cleaning because they require fewer rinses compared to regular soap, produce less foam, are less greasy, and leave a pleasant essential oil scent.

Currently, Ms. Hong owns 8 biological products made from organic waste. PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

Women working together to make a living from waste.

After four years of dedicated research, Ms. Hong did not keep her formula a secret but shared it with thousands of women nationwide, hoping to create livelihoods for them and help them escape poverty. She did this because she herself had received support from society in the past, and she wanted to give back. In 2016, Ms. Hong participated in the Da Nang Business Incubator and gained valuable knowledge about business management and development, after which she established her own company.

Ms. Hong's company purchases raw organic waste from households at a price of 3,500 VND/liter, thereby helping each household earn an additional income of 3-7 million VND/month. With this model, Ms. Hong's company has provided work-from-home employment for approximately 150 disadvantaged women in Da Nang City, processing 1,308 tons of organic plant waste annually, accounting for about 60% of the community's organic waste.

"Currently, Minh Hong Biotech has successfully researched and applied three technologies in one product: Nano technology, biotechnology (Enzyme), and herbal extract technology. This ensures that the product quality is not only good but also superior, providing customers with guaranteed safety and environmental protection, such as: Nano antibacterial properties, biological stain removal, and herbal extracts for skin protection," Ms. Hong said.

In addition, Ms. Hong shared her experience at training sessions organized by the Women's Union at various levels, such as in Hung Yen and Thai Nguyen... "I have successfully written a detailed formula and distributed it to each women's association branch so that women can produce the raw materials themselves at home. Besides helping to recycle a large amount of organic waste released into the environment, the vegetable pulp and wastewater from Minh Hong's products can also be used to fertilize plants, water them, and kill mosquito larvae without harming water sources," Ms. Hong said.

Ms. Bui Thi Kim Van, a resident of Hoa Minh ward (formerly), said: "Previously, leftover vegetables and fruits were often thrown everywhere, and if not cleaned up for a few days, they would rot and emit a foul odor. Since learning how to compost waste from Ms. Hong, all the women have followed suit. Each family has several bins of raw composted waste, which they bring to Ms. Hong to be processed into a biological product, then bring it back to use. It's very cost-effective, organic waste in public places has decreased significantly, and the environment has improved noticeably."

Ms. Hong gives gifts to women in difficult circumstances. PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

Committed to the community

If her sole purpose had been to enrich herself, Ms. Hong would have become a billionaire long ago. When she first perfected the formula, several businesses offered to buy it for 5 billion VND, a huge sum for a poor woman. However, Ms. Hong didn't hesitate to refuse, not because she was worried about losing the patent, but because she feared she wouldn't be able to help other women escape poverty. "5 billion VND can buy a house, a car, and a luxurious lifestyle, and it will all be gone eventually. It only benefits myself. Keeping it to share with other women helps protect the environment and helps them rise up, which I find far more meaningful," Ms. Hong said with a gentle smile.

Ms. Hong is a speaker at many startup forums. PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

Besides running her business, Ms. Hong is also the Vice President of the Lien Chieu District Charity and Child Protection Association. She has initiated many community support initiatives such as the "Charity Capital Contribution Group," which has helped nearly 250 families access loans for economic development; the "2T Savings Group" model, meaning saving and utilizing, which has raised over 200 million VND to support health insurance and livelihoods for poor households; and the "Young Pioneers Team for Environmental Protection," spreading environmental awareness among young children.

As the Head of the Da Nang Women's Entrepreneurship Club, Ms. Hong has shared her experience and provided multifaceted support to help many women start successful businesses over the years. In 2019, Ms. Hong was honored to be one of the 10 outstanding Vietnamese women selected by the Vietnam Women's Union.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chi-hong-yeu-rac-185250708133736144.htm