Proposal
PROBLEM:
Vietnamese citrus and grapefruit production plays an essential role in the country’s agricultural landscape, yielding about 2.95 million tons annually, contributing significantly to the economic and nutritional needs of its population (Knoema 2022) . With a diverse climate conducive to the cultivation of fruits, Vietnam is expected to be an upcoming production hub to become the 16th largest citrus producer in the world by 2026 (Vietnam News n.d).
Despite this benefit, a notable proportion of this production, roughly 25% or 725,000 tons annually, does not meet the market standards, including size, appearance, an is subsequently discarded, resulting in environmental waste, posing difficulties for farmers and representing a loss of economic values.
Farmers grapple with disposing of substandard fruits and peel waste, with aggravating environmental pollution and underscoring the acute shortage of green energy in the market (Pheek 2024). Not only farmers, businesses failing to incorporate ESG standards into their operations are unable to produce environmentally friendly products face significant survival challenges in the future. The current practices in waste management within the citrus production industry with the lack of efficient processing and recycling mechanisms missed an opportunity to exacerbate the problem of agricultural waste.
The by-products are rich in valuable biological resources, potentially boost consumers’ immune system and provide health benefits. Furthermore, by leveraging by-products from fruit peels. farmers’ income are improved, while also contributing to food security and sustainable agricultural practices (Ngo et al. 2023).
SOLUTION:
A promising approach is the development and implementation of technologies and processes for converting citrus and grapefruit peels into valuable products. ZestAroma harnessed these waste to product essential oils and organic charcoal briquettes, presenting a sustainable response to environmental waste challenges. This approach both address to mitigate waste disposal issues and yields commercially viable and eco-friendly products. These products are destined for the beauty industry as well as international markets, including Europe, Japan and South Korea for global demand of clean and sustainable energy sources (Kalak 2023).
ZestAroma’s approach transcends mere waste minimization, and fully embrace a circular economy concepts within its operational framework. This effort markedly advances progress towards various UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). By innovatively utilizing citrus and grapefruit peel waste, ZestAroma demonstrates the feasibility of embedding environmental sustainability into commercial activities, providing a model for future endeavors in sustainable development.
Reference List:
Kalak T (2023) ‘Potential Use of Industrial Biomass Waste as a Sustainable Energy Source in the Future’, Energies, 16(4):1783, doi:10.3390/en16041783.
Knoema (2022) ‘Viet Nam Citrus fruit production, 1961-2023‘, Knoema, accessed 11 April 2024, https://knoema.com/atlas/Viet-Nam/topics/Agriculture/Crops-Production-Quantity-tonnes/Citrus-fruit-production.
Ngo TV, Vo QM and Nguyen TM (2023) ‘FOOD PROCESSING WASTE IN VIETNAM: UTILIZATION AND PROSPECTS IN FOOD INDUSTRY FOR SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT’, Research Gate doi:10.55251/jmbfs.9926.
Pheek L (2024) ‘Vietnam’s green growth dilemma: Balancing development and sustainability’, Nhịp sống kinh tếViệt Nam & Thếgiới, accessed 11 April 2024, https://vneconomy.vn/vietnams-green-growth-dilemma-balancing-development-and-sustainability-855642.htm.
Vietnam News (2024) ‘Agricultural sector urged to continue role in economic growth’, Vietnam News, accessed 11 April 2024, https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1638846/agricultural-sector-urged-to-continue-role-in-economic-growth.html.