Coca-Cola Vietnam is piloting the use of eco-friendly pallets made from agricultural waste—part of its push toward sustainable, carbon-negative packaging solutions.
Called NetZero Pallets, these alternatives to traditional wooden or plastic pallets are being trialed at Coca-Cola’s automated warehouse in Vietnam. Made from materials like coconut fiber and coffee husks, they offer a greener, non-toxic option for product handling and logistics.
The company aims to replace 10.3 million conventional pallets with NetZero versions by 2029.
Developed by AirX Carbon, the world’s first manufacturer of carbon-negative materials from coffee waste, each NetZero Pallet can absorb and store up to 34 kilograms of CO₂, contributing to climate change mitigation.
AirX Carbon’s CEO, Le Thanh, noted growing global interest in this technology, with companies such as NPC Korea, Hyosung, Olam International, and Pakko Australia exploring its use. International organisations—including UNDP, Switch Asia, GIZ, Action on Poverty, and Helvetas—have also voiced support for the innovation.
Scaling up the production of these pallets could prevent tons of agricultural waste from ending up in landfills, while easing rural waste management challenges. Producing 60 million pallets could help:
-
Save 10 million trees
-
Recycle 2 million metric tonnes of agricultural waste
-
Store up to 7 million metric tonnes of CO₂
Beyond environmental benefits, the initiative promises to create income opportunities for more than 600,000 farmers and rural workers, improving livelihoods in Vietnam’s countryside.
AirX Carbon’s manufacturing facility in Binh Duong Province, near Ho Chi Minh City, is currently producing up to 1.5 million pallets annually.
