Australia’s Homegrown PHA Products Deserve A Place..

Ban Plastic, Not The Science: Australia’s Homegrown PHA Products Deserve A Place … So Why Aren’t They Approved Yet?

Date: April 22, 2025
Source: Medianet News Hub

EcoPHA & Terra Sol: The Award-Winning Partnership Making Plastic Bans Truly Work

Australia’s battle against single-use plastics may be on shaky ground unless urgently supported by certified, sustainable alternatives. With the national ban expanding, the market is at risk of being flooded with misleading, greenwashed products claiming eco-friendliness without true biodegradability.

In this critical moment, design company Terra Sol, in partnership with leading biotech firm EcoPHA, has emerged as the only Australian-made supplier of home-compostable, marine-biodegradable, PHA-based cups, lids, straws, and cutlery — offering a truly scalable, sustainable solution.

“We’re urging government bodies to amend the plastic ban, because the alternative is far worse.”
— Louise Sykes, Founder of Terra Sol

A World-First Innovation with Pongamia Oil

Through a world-first patent filing, EcoPHA has developed a method to create PHA bioplastics from non-edible Pongamia oil — a regenerative crop that thrives in Australian conditions. This innovation offers a sustainable and commercially viable pathway for large-scale PHA production.

“Innovation is at the heart of EcoPHA’s mission to develop cutting-edge PHA bioplastics technology.”
— Dr. Wilson Ling, CEO of EcoPHA

A Cost-Effective, Climate-Positive Breakthrough

• 51% lower production costs vs. palm oil

• Carbon credit qualification

• Up to 15,000 metric tonnes of pongamia oil expected annually in Australia

“This breakthrough is not just about science — it’s about scale, economics, and environmental responsibility.”
— Dr. Priyanka Toshniwal, Chief Investment Officer, EcoPHA

PHA is Policy-Proof, Planet-Proof

Unlike PLA and coated papers that require industrial composting, PHA:

• Biodegrades in home compost, soil, and marine environments

• Leaves no microplastic residue

• Is backed by scientific innovation and local production

“PHA isn’t just a better material — it’s a policy-proof solution ready to stand the test of time.”

Key Highlights

• ✅ First Australian-made PHA takeaway cups, lids, straws, and cutlery

• ✅ Patent filed for pongamia-based PHA process

• ✅ Certified marine, soil, and home compostable

• ✅ Production cost savings up to 51%

• ✅ Carbon credit eligible

• ✅ Now available in retail and event-ready quantities

About Terra Sol & EcoPHA

Terra Sol is an award-winning Australian design studio creating next-gen packaging.
EcoPHA Biotech is Australia’s leading developer of certified PHA bioplastics made from pongamia oil. Together, they are driving the future of eco-safe materials — built for Australia, and built for the world.

Read the full article on Medianet:
Ban Plastic, Not The Science – Medianet