Bioplastics are the ideal alternative to regular plastic. Often derived from renewable resources such as corn, sugarcane, or algae, these biodegradable materials can reduce our reliance on the 450 million tonnes of plastic produced annually. But they’re not perfect.
Some biodegradable plastics may not break down completely, leaving residual material. Also, biodegradable plastics are usually more expensive than traditional plastics. In response to these issues, some startups, like BUYO, have created special methods to produce easily biodegradable plastic from agricultural waste.
We spoke to Hanh Do, the co-founder of BUYO Bioplastics, to better understand this technology and get their insights into the future of bioplastics.
In addition to BUYO, here are four more bioplastics startups solving waste and pollution problems.
Only 10% of plastic waste can be recycled. 90% will remain in the environment for a very long time, up to 1000 years. That’s why BUYO focuses on plastic alternatives instead of recycling.
– Hanh Do
Hanh Do is the Co-Founder and CEO of BUYO Bioplastics, a Vietnamese company dedicated to finding radical solutions to the plastic crisis. Before BUYO, she served as Director at Esquel Group, one of the world’s leading apparel and textile manufacturers. Hanh has also advised corporations and organizations on strategy, innovation, and restructuring and published on national and corporate strategy, competitiveness, innovation, and industrial policy.
This interview is part of GreyB’s Scouted series. In this series, we spotlight innovative startups and speak to their founders about how their solutions can revolutionize the industry by solving problems. You can find all those interviews here in text and video format.
Overview of BUYO’s technologies and business plan
Buyo is a Vietnamese startup that aims to address the plastic waste crisis by developing eco-friendly, biodegradable plastic from agricultural waste. The company utilizes two patented technologies: one for creating biocomposites for packaging applications and another for producing a 100% bio-based material for medical and cosmetic textile sectors. Their mission is to reduce plastic waste by creating fully biodegradable materials from agricultural waste, addressing environmental concerns while preserving valuable food resources.
Check out the full conversation here.
Here are key highlights from the discussion to read at a glance.
Highlights from The Conversation
How does BUYO’s technology work?
We have two patented technologies. The first is a material engineering process that compounds biowaste with other biopolymers to create a biocomposite for packaging. The second is a bio-fermentation technology in which we use nutrients from biowaste to feed proprietary bacterial strains. These bacteria generate a 100% bio-based and biocompatible material we can develop for medical, cosmetic, and textile applications.
Our approach is unique because we’re upcycling agricultural waste instead of using valuable food crops like starch. This helps us reduce our carbon footprint and preserve food resources.
What sets Buyo apart from other companies in this space?
Unlike many companies focusing on plastic recycling, we create fully biodegradable plastic alternatives from agricultural bio-waste. This approach allows us to utilize abundant agricultural waste in Vietnam, preserve food crops, and generate a lower carbon footprint. Our material has a high bio-based content and is fully biodegradable in natural environments without industrial composting facilities.
How do you address the technical limitations of bio-based materials?
We have to accept that nature-based materials have limitations compared to regular plastics. It’s a technical ladder we need to climb over time. We work closely with customers, starting with less technically challenging applications and improving our expertise to tackle more complex issues.
We also need to consider whether some packaging is over-engineered. In the past, before plastic, we didn’t use so many layers or coatings for simple products. It’s about finding a balance between use cases and packaging solutions.
How are you making these sustainable materials cost-competitive?
By using low-cost bio-waste, we can offer more competitive pricing compared to other bioplastic solutions. We’re comparable to materials like wood or paper. To further reduce costs, we need scale. We’re looking for large companies to champion our solution and help us achieve economies of scale. We also believe supportive government policies and regulations will play a crucial role in making sustainable alternatives more cost-competitive over time.
Can you tell us about your intellectual property strategy?
As a deep tech company, patents and IP protection are crucial for us. Most of our funding goes into R&D, IP protection, and product development rather than manufacturing. Our future business model focuses on technology licensing, so protecting our innovations is essential. We file PCT applications. These give us sufficient time to identify strategic markets before entering national phase applications, balancing protection with cost considerations.
What’s your vision for Buyo’s future?
Our main focus now is on scaling up. We want to build a strong team that can handle a much bigger scale of growth and a more ambitious agenda. We’re focusing on expanding our operations beyond Vietnam. We want to bring our technology to other markets, localize our footprint, and build networks of partners globally. Technology licensing and partnerships will allow us to serve the global market more efficiently.
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Meet our Interviewer – Vikas Jha, AVP, Solutions at GreyB
Vikas Jha is an experienced tech consultant focusing on Intellectual Property Consulting. With expertise in diverse domains like Telecom, Navigation, and Medical Devices, he helps clients navigate innovation challenges. His ability to bridge technology, innovation, and leadership makes him a valuable resource in the evolving tech landscape. Vikas has been featured on CNBC for his insights on next-gen technologies like space tech.
Click here for more startups interviewed by GreyB.
Authored By: Hemanth Shenoy, Market Research
