Each year an estimated 20 million metric tons of plastic ends up in the environment, and this is expected to increase substantially in the coming decades. This is on the back of about 460 million metric tons of plastic being produced every year, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Plastic pollution is a hugely pressing environmental issue, and one that led to a collaboration between Victoria-based climate tech company EcoPHA and design firm Terra Sol.
EcoPHA produces a next generation bioplastic, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) that can break down naturally in marine and soil environments within months, with no microplastics left behind.
With the help of Terra Sol, this bioplastic has been utilised to produce aesthetic, high-performance products and replace single-use plastics, such as in takeaway cups and straws and cutlery currently used by cafes, hospitals and universities.
“Terra Sol takes that science and transforms it through design, creating cups and future-ready solutions that feel less like disposables and more like cultural statements,” Terra Sol CEO Louise Sykes said.
“Together, we’re proving that sustainability and design can work hand-in-hand, scalable biotech innovation paired with storytelling that inspires businesses and their customers alike.”
EcoPha and Terra Sol are finalists in the InnovationAus 2025 Awards for Excellence in the Energy and Renewables category. The InnovationAus 2025 Awards for Excellence winners and finalists will be celebrated at a black-tie gala dinner at Sydney Town Hall on Thursday, November 27. You can book your tickets here.
The Energy and Renewables category is sponsored by the University of New South Wales.
The award aims to highlight Australia’s ambition and innovation in renewable energy, recycling and the circular economy, including everything from advancements in hydrogen extraction technologies, solar cell improvements, grid management software and innovations in re-manufacturing.
Receiving the nomination is strong validation for the two companies’s sustainable solution, Ms Sykes said.
“This nomination is a powerful signal that Australia is embracing the kind of innovation the world urgently needs, solutions that are not only sustainable, but also scalable and culturally resonant,” she said.
“Together, the recognition reinforces our belief that science and creativity, when united, can set a new benchmark for how Australia leads the future of sustainable materials.”
EcoPHA produces the bioplastic using fermentation, converting carbon sources into acids, gases or alcohol, with the PHA made from pongamia oil.
It is the only company in Australia producing this class of PHA, and is among just a handful globally with an end-to-end supply chain model, covering everything from cultivation to product delivery.
The company is headquartered in Victoria, with a research lab in Perth, and Terra Sol is based in Sydney.
EcoPHA and Terra Sol’s products are designed to feel like plastic, giving businesses and consumers a guilt-free way to eliminate single-use plastic pollution, for the benefit of the environment around the world.
The goal is to eventually replace the use of single-use plastics.
“In the near term, that means the majority of Australian cafes serving coffee in Terra Sol cups, hospitals using our products for the most vulnerable patients, and schools and universities making sustainable choices part of daily life,” Ms Sykes said.
The 2025 InnovationAus Awards for Excellence will be held on November 27 at the magnificent Sydney Town Hall. You can secure individual seats or book a table here. Purchase a table of 10 and have your logo displayed on screens across the venue and in the event programme as a ‘Table Sponsor’.
The InnovationAus 2025 Awards for Excellence are proudly supported by ACS, PEXA Group, the CSIRO ON Program, Griffith Hack, TechnologyOne, Q-CTRL, National AI Centre, University of New South Wales, Investment NSW and IP Australia.
Protecting your great ideas with intellectual property (IP) rights can lead to lasting benefits for your growing business. IP refers to creations of the mind, such as a brand, logo, invention, design or artistic work. Head to the IP Australia website to find out more about IP, and how it might help your business.
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