Vietnamese businesses turn shrimp shells, pineapple peels into valuable products

Covering approximately 11,000 square meters, GRECO 2026 features 90 exhibition booths and nearly 70 domestic and international organizations, showcasing new and advanced green solutions across multiple sectors.

The event, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Center and partner organizations, is part of the on-going Autumn Economic Forum 2026 held in the city from Monday to Thursday.

On the opening day on Monday, multiple businesses and research institutions presented eco-friendly products developed using modern technologies.

Bui Thi Thanh Tu, community manager at InnoEx, an international innovation alliance, said the organization’s nine sustainable agriculture models are on display at the event.

Among them, Fuwa3e is a cleaning product brand that uses enzymes extracted from pineapple by-products.

Instead of discarding pineapple peels and other parts left over from food processing, the company uses them as raw materials for consumer products.

Fuwa3e has introduced hand soap, dishwashing liquid, and floor cleaner, and is researching pet care products such as shampoo and body wash, Tu said.

“Using these materials not only helps businesses develop products but also creates additional value from agricultural by-products, rather than using only the pineapple fruit for consumption,” she said.

In seafood processing, VNF Company is showcasing a model that turns shrimp by-products into items for agriculture and pet care.

Tran Dao Hong Ngoc, VNF’s sales director, said shrimp processing in southern Vietnam's Mekong Delta generates large quantities of by-products, which may contribute to environmental pollution without proper collection and treatment.

In response, VNF has invested in research and technology to convert shrimp by-products into raw materials for fertilizer, shrimp protein products, and pet food, she said.

The technology allows the company to turn seafood processing waste into higher-value products while reducing waste generated during production, Ngoc added.

Agricultural by-products are also being researched as potential materials for the textile and industrial manufacturing sectors.

Pham Thi Hong Phuong, lecturer from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, said her research team had brought samples of pineapple, coconut and banana fibers, along with fabrics dyed using newly developed natural colorants, to the show.

The items use by-products that have been researched and processed into higher-value materials rather than simply being treated as waste, Phuong said.

“These products are also attracting interest from Japanese and South Korean partners, as well as domestic businesses,” she said.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Nguyen Loc Ha, permanent vice-chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City administration, said the city is entering a new phase of development as Vietnam’s hub for economy, science, technology, and innovation.

The southern metropolis has identified green and digital transformation as key priorities in its long-term development strategy, aiming to restructure economic sectors toward greater sustainability, Ha said.

The city aims to build a smart, carbon-neutral and sustainable economy, contributing to Vietnam’s national green growth strategy and its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions.

Despite global economic uncertainties, the city has maintained positive growth momentum.

Its gross regional domestic product was estimated at VND2.46 quadrillion (US$95 billion), up 9.06 percent year on year, while industrial production rose 10.9 percent and foreign direct investment increased over 323 percent from the same period in 2025.

Ha said GRECO was more than a venue for showcasing eco-friendly products.

It also connects businesses with advanced technologies and new business models while encouraging sustainable consumption.