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.

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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

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.

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.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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.”

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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

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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

Date: April 22, 2025  | Source: Mirage.News

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.

EcoPHA & Terra Sol: Australia’s Game-Changing Partnership

In response to this challenge, Terra Sol, an award-winning design studio, has partnered with EcoPHA Biotech, Australia’s leading PHA technology company, to offer the first Australian-made, home-compostable, marine-biodegradable PHA-based products—including cups, lids, straws, and cutlery. These products are ready for immediate scale but face a critical hurdle: PHA is not yet recognised by current legislation as an approved plastic alternative.

“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

EcoPHA has filed a world-first patent for producing PHA bioplastics from Pongamia oil, a non-edible, regenerative crop well-suited to Australian climates. This innovation delivers not only environmental impact but also economic viability.

 

“With this breakthrough, EcoPHA is strengthening Australia’s position as a global leader in PHA bioplastics…” — Dr. Wilson Ling, CEO of EcoPHA

This novel feedstock reduces manufacturing costs by up to 51% compared to palm oil, while qualifying for carbon credits due to Pongamia’s CO2 absorption properties. Australia is expected to generate up to 15,000 metric tonnes annually, offering a reliable, sustainable raw material.

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

A Policy-Ready, Scalable Solution

EcoPHA and Terra Sol’s certified, compostable products present a ready-to-launch solution that aligns with national sustainability goals, yet awaits regulatory greenlight. The plastic ban is an opportunity—not only to eliminate harmful materials but to support homegrown, science-backed innovations that can lead globally.

“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-based takeaway product range

• Patent filed for PHA from Pongamia oil

• Products degrade in marine, soil, and compost environments

• Production costs reduced by 51% compared to palm oil

• Carbon credit eligible

Full article: Australia’s PHA Products Await Approval Amid Ban