You know those friends, the high fliers who seem to be perpetually achieving something new, who you come away from a catch-up with feeling a hearty mix of awe and envy. This is Marina Tran-Vu.
Đọc bài viết bằng Tiếng Việt
From degrees in both business and marketing, over 13 years experience working for some serious, big name brands (Unilever, Bacardi, LG to name a few…) she’s gone on to found EQUO, a sustainability brand that provides clever, compostable solutions for single-use plastic. If we were one of the old friends catching up we’d be downing our glass and ordering another by now…
Award-winning Industry Disrupter
Established in 2020, EQUO is still relatively new to the sustainability scene, but has already been recognized for breaking new ground. Carefully piloted by the ambitious Marina, the brand has been featured in Forbes, on Bloomberg TV, won multiple sustainability and start-up awards and has raised $1.3 million US dollars in funding. Marina herself has her share of kudos, named the grand winner of She Disrupts Vietnam and the winner of Visa Vietnam’s She’s Next Grant Program.
Most recently, her environmental efforts earned her a spot as one of the four ‘Faces of 7 Bridges’, a series of special edition beer labels from the Vietnamese craft beer brand, that celebrate local heroes striving towards sustainability. “I was really honored” Marina disclosed, “There are so many people here in Vietnam doing amazing things in our sector, and EQUO is so new that I felt very humbled to have been chosen“. Just this week she was chosen to announce the winner of the Sustainable Restaurant award at The B.A.R. Awards.
Clearing up the future
So what inspired this marketing mogul to make the move in sustainability? “On a trip back home to Vietnam, I kept seeing grass straws used in cafes and restaurants, instead of the standard plastic ones. Naturally, being in marketing, I saw an opportunity here to meet the growing demand for plastic alternatives we are seeing, particularly in the West.”
But noticing the potential business opportunity was just the start. The real catalyst was when Marina’s nephew was born. “I instantly wanted to make the world a better place for him to grow up in. On top of that, I wanted to shift the perspective of Vietnam and get it on the map as a country working towards a more sustainable future.”
The Intersectionalities Of The Over Production And Pollution
That said, it’s no secret Vietnam has a plastic problem. Simply look around. It is evident everywhere. But the issue runs far deeper than the eyesore pile of trash you see on the streets.
Up to one million people die every year from plastic pollution and poor waste management, and it’s marginalized communities who are impacted the most. “Undeveloped communities rely heavily on open sources of water for drinking water, food, cleaning, washing…” Marina tells us “if that water is contaminated with microplastics, or natural systems are blocked, it can lead to knock-on effects of disease, even flooding, landslides and all sorts of problems.”
At face value, EQUO’s mission might seem like a nice to have. Choosing the straw you drink your skinny iced latte out of, may seem inconsequential but it has a deep socio-environmental impact, for better or worse. “To me that is big motivation” says Marina.
The Plastic Problem And The Privilege Problem
Of course sustainability should be both accessible and beneficial for everyone, but the reality is alternatives are often more expensive than their plastic counterparts.
EQUO sells premium products, which, as ever, means premium prices. And premium prices are a privilege. An issue Marina is blatantly aware of. “We understand that the current cost of our products means not everyone can afford them, and we never, ever, want to shame anyone for using plastic. We want to let those who can make a conscious choice to do better.”
And there is a justifiable reason for the price tag. Not only is quality assured but, EQUO’s plastic alternatives are new to the market. “Think of it this way” Marina says “for a long time laptops and cellphones when introduced were considered niche, expensive and only available for a certain market. It took a few decades to bring the price down and now most of us can, not only afford them, but can’t imagine life without them. That’s what I see for us at EQUO too.”
What Next?
So what’s left for the already accomplished Marina? For now she is continuing to lead the charge for change at EQUO, but of course, she is someone who dreams big. A collaboration with Chanel is just one of her many ambitions – Nestlé or P&G might seem more conventional, but who ever made a difference by thinking inside the box? Next year, EQUO is launching new products and new materials. Iconic Chanel tweed perhaps…
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