Bhutan to Host Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Biodegradable Plastics Project

EcoPHA and Terra Sol Finalists at 2025 InnovationAus Awards for Excellence

Sydney, Australia – 4 September 2025: EcoPHA Biotech and our exclusive design partner Terra Sol Studio have officially been named finalists in the prestigious 2025 InnovationAus Awards for Excellence, under the Energy & Renewables category.

The announcement recognises our joint breakthrough in turning pongamia oil—a carbon-sequestering, non-edible crop—into a scalable, marine-safe bioplastic known as PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates). Terra Sol has helped bring this innovation to life with Australia’s first locally designed and manufactured PHA coffee cups and compostable packaging.

We are proud to see science, design, and sustainability converge in a way that brings real-world impact, helping reduce plastic pollution and transition to a truly circular economy.

🏆 Event Details

• Event: 2025 InnovationAus Awards for Excellence
• Date: Thursday, 27 November 2025
• Location: Sydney, Australia
• Category: Energy & Renewables
• Host: InnovationAus
• Category Sponsor: University of New South Wales

💬 What Our Founders Say

“Innovation is core to EcoPHA, and our partnership with Terra Sol is the perfect way to bring PHA products and our brand to market — turning innovative science into impact for a plastic-free future.”
– Dr. Wilson Ling, Founder and CEO, EcoPHA Biotech

“It’s an honour to be recognised alongside some of Australia’s most innovative companies. This finalist recognition shows that our design-first approach to sustainability is resonating, and that we’re on the right track to creating meaningful change.”
– Louise Sykes, Founder & Creative Lead, Terra Sol Studio

🔗 Media Coverage

• → Medianet Press Release

🙌 Join Us

We invite all our supporters, partners, and the broader community to vote in the People’s Choice Awards (coming soon), follow our journey, and explore the future of PHA packaging at ecopha.shop and terrasolstudio.com.

Together, we’re designing a plastic-free, climate-smart future — one PHA cup at a time.

About EcoPHA Biotech:
EcoPHA is an Australian biotechnology company pioneering PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) bioplastics from renewable inputs like pongamia oil. Our materials are 100% home-compostable and marine-safe, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.

Contact:
Vivienne Blake – viviennepr@terrasolstudio.com

EcoPHA Biotech Unveils World-First PHA Breakthrough at FEMS MICRO 2025 in Milan

FEMS MICRO 2025 – Federation of European Microbiological Societies Congress

Date: July 29, 2025
Source: femsmicro.org NewsHub.MediaNet & NewsOf NZ  

Australian Innovation in the Spotlight

EcoPHA Biotech has announced a groundbreaking achievement at FEMS MICRO 2025 in Milan, one of the world’s most influential forums in microbiology and environmental science. This marks a key advancement in scalable, marine-safe bioplastics.

Ecopha’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr Long Nguyen at FEMS MICRO 2025 in Milan

Game-Changing Breakthrough
Chief Technology Officer, Dr Long Nguyen, revealed that EcoPHA has developed a novel method to use Pongamia oil—a carbon-sequestering, non-edible crop—as a renewable feedstock for producing PHB, a type of fully biodegradable plastic in the PHA family. This breakthrough process, now PCT patent-filed, allows scalable production of marine-safe bioplastics without leaving microplastic residue or requiring industrial composting.

“We’re excited to unveil our breakthrough in converting Pongamia oil into PHA bioplastics — a solution that combines environmental impact with scientific innovation,” said Dr. Wilson Ling, CEO and Co-Founder of EcoPHA Biotech.

Global Recognition
This development was presented as part of the official scientific program at FEMS MICRO 2025, drawing attention from leading academics, policymakers, and innovators in microbiology and environmental tech. It places EcoPHA at the forefront of sustainable materials science.

FEMS MICRO Milan 2025: Congress & Exhibition!

Why It Matters
Unlike many bioplastics, PHB produced by EcoPHA breaks down naturally in marine and soil environments, helping address the urgent global need for scalable and plastic-free packaging alternatives. Pongamia oil’s resilience, sustainability, and ability to grow on marginal land make it a superior input for climate-resilient manufacturing.

Key Facts:

• Event Location: Milan, Italy
• Event: FEMS MICRO 2025 – Federation of European Microbiological Societies Congress
• Date of Announcement: 29 July 2025
• Presented by: Dr Long Nguyen, CTO
• Breakthrough: Use of Pongamia oil as a novel PHB feedstock
• Patent Status: PCT patent filed for production process
• Impact: Scalable, compost-free, marine-safe bioplastics
• Recognition: Featured in global sustainability science program

About EcoPHA Biotech:
EcoPHA Biotech is an Australian biotechnology company developing marine-safe, fully biodegradable PHA plastics. The company focuses on renewable feedstocks like Pongamia oil and agricultural waste to produce plastic alternatives that break down in natural environments. With operations in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, EcoPHA combines microbial science and sustainability to shape a climate-resilient circular economy.