Equo

EQUO is a Vietnam-based consumer products company that makes plastic-free, compostable alternatives to single-use plastic items. Its core catalogue consists of drinking straws made from rice, grass, coconut, sugarcane and coffee grounds, and disposable utensils (knives, spoons, forks) made from coffee grounds, sugarcane and FSC-certified wood. The range also includes recycled newspaper pencils and canvas tote bags, alongside an announced line of sugarcane food containers and cups, reusable totes and compostable bags for grocery, retail and home use. Products are described as 100% plastic-free, PLA-free, chemical-free and compostable, made from materials that would otherwise be discarded, such as sugarcane bagasse and coffee grounds.

The brand name is a contraction of "eco" and "status quo," reflecting a positioning around products with minimal environmental impact. EQUO sells to both consumers and businesses: a direct-to-consumer storefront sells retail packs (straws from $6.99, utensil packs from $6.99 to $11.99) while a separate wholesale site offers bulk cases of 1,000 units, custom-branded packaging, sample requests and price lists for foodservice and corporate buyers. As of the material reviewed, most listings on the direct store show as out of stock (33 of 35 products).

EQUO states that its products are ecolabel-certified and tested for compostability, toxin-free and gluten-free status and absence of heavy metals, with a shelf life of up to three years, and that uncoated utensils break down in nature within 12 months.

Founding story

Founder and CEO Marina Tran-Vu, a Vietnamese Canadian, conceived EQUO after a 2019 visit to Vietnam during which she was affected by the plastic pollution she observed. Motivated to protect Vietnam's landscape, to create a better future for her newborn nephew and to position Vietnam as a sustainability leader, she left her corporate career to start the company. The idea was formed in 2019 and the business officially launched the following year.

Business model

EQUO sells branded compostable straws, utensils and related goods through two channels: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store offering small retail packs, and a wholesale operation selling bulk quantities (typically 1,000-count cases) to F&B businesses, offices and corporate buyers, with custom-branded packaging services and a sample/price-list request process.

Product sales: retail packs priced from roughly $6.99 to $11.99 on the consumer store, and wholesale/bulk cases priced from roughly $36.99 to $149.99 per 1,000 units, plus custom packaging services for business customers.

Traction

The company reports customers in 15 countries and a wholesale-site counter of roughly 25 million pieces of single-use plastic replaced. It holds an Amazon presence in three markets and published customer testimonials from Vietnamese cafés and workspaces. At the time of the 2022 seed announcement the company had been operating for two years with one year in the market.

Latest developments

The company continues to operate consumer and wholesale storefronts, publishing regular educational content through mid-2026 on topics including PLA and plastic content in "plant-based" straws, compostable takeaway containers, greenwashing, corporate gifting and sustainable events. Its wholesale offering emphasises custom-branded packaging and sample programmes for business buyers. Most items on the direct-to-consumer store were listed as out of stock.