Lepironia Straws: A Grassroots Green Startup
(DTO) Amidst the global burden of plastic waste, many young people are choosing startup paths linked to sustainable values. In Lap Vo District, 36-year-old Phan Tan Phat has transformed simple grey sedge grass (cỏ bàng) into eco-friendly straws.
A graduate in Accounting, Phat once held a stable corporate job in a major city. However, amidst the urban hustle, he remained preoccupied with the value of local resources.
During his observations of the Dong Thap Muoi (Plain of Reeds) region, Phat noticed an abundance of wild grey sedge. For generations, this grass had only been associated with traditional weaving, such as making baskets, mats, and hats.
"Why not turn this grass into straws to replace plastic ones? Why has such a plentiful, natural, and fully biodegradable resource not been fully utilized?" Phat asked himself.
In 2020, amidst economic fluctuations, Tan Phat made a pivotal decision to quit his job and leave the city. With a capital of approximately 200 million VND, he returned to Lap Vo to build a workshop.
ECO PTP Production and Trading Co., Ltd. was born, marking the emergence of a young director with an ambition to change consumer habits.
However, transforming wild grass into export-standard straws was no simple feat. Phat traveled as far as Tay Ninh Province to find high-quality raw materials, as not every stalk possessed the necessary maturity and diameter.
According to Phat, the grass is very brittle if not handled correctly; cutting it into segments without splitting or cracking was a difficult puzzle. The step of clearing the inner nodes of the straw was the most delicate stage—one imprecise move could ruin the entire stalk.
To maintain natural color and durability, the drying temperature must be tuned with extreme precision. If it is too hot, the grass burns; if too cool, bacteria and mold are not eliminated.
"In the beginning, there were times when batches failed to meet requirements. Seeing thousands of defective straws was heartbreaking. But with a startup spirit, I learned through trial and error, improving the machinery until I achieved the most perfected product," Phat shared.
Phat’s straws quickly gained consumer trust thanks to their natural origin, free from chemicals and preservatives.
To produce a finished straw, the process at his workshop is strict: the grass is carefully selected for hardness and diameter; cut, partition-cleared and washed through multiple stages; dried at appropriate temperatures for sterilization and dehydration; and finally inspected before shipment.
Beyond business, Phat’s company creates a positive community impact by employing idle local labor, providing a stable income for many farmers. The skilled hands that once only wove baskets are now meticulously crafting each eco-friendly straw.
In the digital age, Phat actively promotes his products on social media platforms like Facebook, Zalo, and YouTube. He also collaborates with other production facilities to create a sustainable supply chain.
"Green products often cost more than plastic ones. To gain consumer acceptance, our products must offer superior quality and be highly competitive in terms of aesthetics and safety," he noted.
His perseverance has paid off. Today, Phat's grass straws are not only present in domestic restaurants, resorts, and cafes but are also exported to international markets—a testament to the value of local resources when invested in professionally.
The startup story of Phan Tan Phat has strongly inspired rural youth to leverage local assets, contributing daily to changing consumer habits and reducing the environmental burden of plastic waste.
By DUONG UT
Translated by X.QUANG
