A Danish businessman has spend his days recycling plastic into common household goods in Vietnam for the past two years to help protect the evironment, leaving a positive impact on locals in the process.

Frantz Byrch Pedersen, a 42-year-old business owner, has spent 20 years living in Asia.

In 2015, he first came to Vietnam. He has fallen in love with the country’s culture, cuisine, nature, and people since then.

When he arrived in Vietnam for the first time, Pedersen began sourcing bamboo from the country’s northern provinces and transforming it into water bottles, toothbrushes, cups, and other everyday goods.

In 2020, he shifted from using bamboo to utilizing a mixture of bamboo and recycled coffee, paper, and wood scraps to develop products under his 'Not Just a Cup' brand. 

These products officially hit the European market in early 2022. 

It was also around this time that he adopted Hoi An, a small city on the central coast, as his main base in Vietnam and began seeking support from authorities there and in neighboring Da Nang City to continue collecting plastic waste which he could turn into everyday products.

He then spent the next 18 months studying waste recycling solutions and partnering with local restaurants, hotels, households, and schools to have them classify and wash their plastic waste, which he could then pick up and recycle.

“I call them ‘plastic partners.’ We both share a mutual interest in environmental protection," Pedersen said.

“They respect my job and understand that we are both helping each other for a better and cleaner environment while preventing plastic waste from being sent to landfills or scattered into the ocean."

Pedersen now has over 100 ‘plastic partners’ in Hoi An and Da Nang.

Plastic pickup

Pedersen collects waste from his ‘plastic partners’ three days per week.

Most of this waste is low-cost plastic, such as single-use cups, lids, straws, and bags.

His collection vehicle for all that plastic is a homemade cart attached to the back of a motorbike with 'WE RECYCLE PLASTIC WASTE' prominently written on its side.

His cart is such a hit amongst locals that children run to help him load plastic every time he pulls up to a school or business.

Adults are also touched by Pedersen’s work.

Tran Dinh Quoc Khuong, the owner of a restaurant in Hoi An Ancient Town, said the idea of a foreigner collecting plastic waste has inspired locals to be more mindful about their garbage.

“His work not only helps protect the environment but also leaves a positive impact on locals," Khuong observed.

“Many people have become more aware of environmental protection [because of Pedersen’s work].

"More restaurants have begun to use paper cups and boxes, while many residents have replaced plastic bags with recycled bags."

Extending plastic life cycle

Once collected, the plastic waste is classified and cut into pieces measuring eight to 10 millimeters each. 

These plastic pieces are later transported to factories which Pedersen has partnered with.

His team also holds seminars to spread awareness of the dangers of plastic and promote environmental protection.

“Seeing smiles when people give us their plastic, or children changing their habits, makes me feel grateful to have come to Vietnam," Pedersen said.

“I am happy to be doing a job that makes differences and inspires others to build a greener and better Vietnam."

Pedersen has also launched the 'Give back to Vietnam' campaign where he donates part of the revenue from each recycled product he sells to NGOs and schools in Vietnam’s mountainous regions.

Through the campaign, 12 water filtration systems and one solar power project have been developed in northern Lao Cai Province, providing clean water for over 3,000 students.

Like us on Facebook or  follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!