Unique eco-friendly plates from sea grape leaves

The product won the first prize of the Plastic Waste Reduction Initiative contest organized by the International Organization for the Protection of Nature (WWF) in Phu Yen.

Sea vine has very thick leaves, the fruit grows in bunches.

Sea grape belongs to the line of woody, piled roots, many canopies with the scientific name 'Coccoloba uvifera' . Sea vine is also known by locals as pangasius . This plant is grown a lot in the Hoang Sa archipelago and coastal provinces in the Central region. In Phu Yen, sea vine is planted in dozens of roads, most are Doc Lap, Nguyen Huu Tho, Le Duan, Truong Chinh and along the marine park of Tuy Hoa city. A beautiful sea grape leaf was purchased by Mr. Nguyen Van Tuyen for 200 VND to form plates.

Graduated in Economic Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport, although his work is quite busy, Mr. Tuyen still spends time going to many places to search, experiment and manufacture materials to replace products. single use plastic. In 2020, Mr. Tuyen is known to many people when he creates cups, plates and spoons from mo areca in Quang Ngai. Following the initial success, in his hometown of Phu Yen, Mr. Tuyen tried with many kinds of banana leaves, lotus leaves, and bamboo leaves to make plates and trays and succeeded with sea grape leaves.

Nguyen Van Tuyen pressed sea grape leaves into a plate-shaped mold.

Nguyen Van Tuyen shared that in early 2021, when he was passing through some coastal villages in Phu Yen, he saw that the leaves of the sea vine were very thick, with many beautiful veins. He brought sea grape leaves from Phu Yen to Quang Ngai for testing, producing products with beautiful colors. With a capital of 120 million VND, Mr. Tuyen bought a hydraulic press, built a water tank for washing leaves, and expanded the production workshop in Hoa Xuan Dong commune, Dong Hoa town, Phu Yen. The leaves of sea grapes, after being purchased from people, are dried in the sun, then cleaned with clean water, dried, and then put into a press mold. It takes just over 30 seconds to complete a leaf plate in the shape of a heart or triangle. Each plate is being sold on the market for 2,000 VND, can be used 10 times to change single-use plastic clothes that are being ordered by many restaurants, hotels, travel business units.

The leaf plate has a very beautiful pattern, can be used 10 times instead of single-use plastic.

'7,000 plates made of sea grape leaves exported to Poland, introduced in Singapore. Recently, the product has also been ordered by some domestic airlines to use on flights. I am researching to press sea grape leaves into cups, square plates from 12-15 cm, or graft two leaves to have a larger product and use more durable ,' added Mr. Nguyen Van Tuyen.

According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Thang, Director of the Rural Development Sub-Department, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Phu Yen province, the plate made from sea grape leaves is a new product, meaning environmental protection. In Phu Yen, sea grapes are grown a lot. Therefore, the variety of products from sea grape leaves will contribute to the expansion of the area planted with this endemic plant, both to block the wind, to block sand and prevent landslides, and at the same time to help Phu Yen have more products. travel.