From her childhood memories of areca palms in her garden, Ms. Phan Vu Hoai Vui (born in 1989) came up with the idea of recycling areca spathe into daily products to replace disposable plastic items. These items are increasingly popular because of their high biodegradability, contributing to protecting the living environment.
Since 2020, in Tien Phu Tay village (Tien My commune, Tien Phuoc district, Quang Nam province), Ms. Hoai Vui has begun researching and creating beautiful products made from areca spathe. The special thing is that they can replace plastic products and other hard-to-decompose materials.
"The areca tree can produce fruit for our grandparents to chew betel, and the areca leaves can be used to make fans, water buckets, etc. In the past, anything could be turned into useful objects. However, when I grew up and went to work, my colleagues and I ate meals in plastic and styrofoam boxes, then threw them away, affecting the living environment.
So why don't I try making plates, trays, boxes, etc. from areca spathe, instead of those plastic and foam boxes? That thought has inspired me to make products like now," Ms. Vui shared.
From April to September every year is the time when people harvest areca spathes and bring them to the cooperative. Areca spathes are completely biodegradable, do not pollute the environment, and are safe for the health of users. Some can be reused many times, helping to save costs and protect the environment.
Talking about the product making process, Ms. Vui said that first, the newly fallen areca spathes are dried, brought to the workshop for sorting, then soaked in water, washed and put into the molding machine.
Products made from areca spathe by Ms. Hoai Vui
Qualified products will be selected to be put into the sterilizer, ensuring product hygiene and safety. Finally, they will be packaged, stored and distributed.
Faced with environmental pollution caused by plastic waste, scientists have been trying to find solutions. Products from areca spathe are an effective alternative to plastic products. Areca spathe is often considered agricultural waste, but now it has a new life cycle, reborn into useful products.
Ms. Phan Vu Hoai Vui
Areca spathe is a renewable, sustainable, and naturally available resource. Through constant research and development, Ms. Vui has transformed a seemingly discarded resource into environmentally friendly products.
"If the areca spathe is not used to make these products, people often let it fall in the garden. A few people use the areca leaves to make fires and use the areca leaves to make fans, which is very wasteful," said Ms. Vui.
Areca spathe is sturdy and beautiful, so it can be crafted into many different shapes such as trays, cups, and plates. More specifically, areca spathe products can be used to hold some specialties such as wind-dried persimmons and fruits.
These products not only help reduce plastic waste in the environment but are also safe for the health of users. Moreover, purchasing areca spathe also helps people earn more income, improve their lives and understand more about natural products.
Every year, the Quang Nam Agricultural and Industrial Cooperative, managed by Ms. Hoai Vui, distributes more than 300,000 products to the community. The Cooperative's products are also exported to the US market and conquer the international community.
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/tao-vong-doi-moi-cho-mo-cau-20250120190143689.htm
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