EcoPHA & Terra Sol: The Award-Winning Partnership Making Plastic Bans Truly Work
Australia's war on plastic is at risk of backfiring. With the nationwide single-use plastic ban rapidly expanding, the lack of viable, certified, and truly compostable alternatives threatens to flood the market with products falsely marketed as 'eco-friendly.'
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 an immediately scalable, truly sustainable solution. But current legislation doesn't yet recognise PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) as an approved alternative.
"We're urging government bodies to amend the plastic ban, because the alternative is far worse," said Louise, Founder of Terra Sol. "Without change, we're replacing harmful plastics with unregulated, greenwashed materials that don't actually break down safely, and we miss the opportunity to support real Australian innovation already happening here at home."
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, now under patent review, offers a sustainable, commercially viable pathway for large-scale PHA production, with immense potential for packaging, food service, manufacturing, and more.
"Innovation is at the heart of EcoPHA's mission to develop cutting-edge PHA bioplastics technology," said Dr Wilson Ling, CEO of EcoPHA. "With this breakthrough, EcoPHA is strengthening Australia's position as a global leader in PHA bioplastics. Our innovation using Pongamia oil opens up new possibilities for sustainable packaging and industrial applications, driving both economic and environmental benefits."
"Our breakthrough in using Pongamia oil makes PHB production significantly more cost-effective-reducing manufacturing costs by up to 51% compared to palm oil-while also qualifying for carbon credits," explained Dr Long Nguyen, Chief Technology Officer at EcoPHA. "With up to 15,000 metric tonnes expected to be available annually in Australia, this is a reliable, regenerative solution."
"This breakthrough is not just about science-it's about scale, economics, and environmental responsibility," said Dr Priyanka Toshniwal, Chief Investment Officer at EcoPHA. "With pongamia, we're introducing a renewable, non-edible oil source that lowers costs, earns carbon credits, and does not compete with food supply. This positions PHB as the most commercially and ethically viable bioplastic on the market."
Australia has an opportunity to lead, not follow, on the world stage of sustainable innovation. With the technology, manufacturing capability, and certified solutions already in place, there is no excuse for continuing to approve outdated or imported substitutes that don't deliver true environmental outcomes. EcoPHA and Terra Sol stand ready to scale, ready to support policy, and ready to supply the nation and the world with a solution that's safe, smart, and built for the planet.
The plastic ban isn't just a legislative shift - it's a chance to future-proof our industries, regenerate our environment, and support homegrown breakthroughs that solve global problems. It's time to make the right material, the standard material.
Recent discussions in the United States around reversing plastic bans have highlighted the global instability in sustainability policy-and the danger of relying on materials that don't deliver long-term environmental results. As some governments backtrack under industry pressure, it's more important than ever for countries like Australia to lead with proven, science-backed solutions that are commercially viable, ethically sourced, and fully compostable in real-world conditions. PHA isn't just a better material-it's a policy-proof solution ready to stand the test of time.
Key Facts:
- Launch Announcement: Terra Sol unveils the first Australian Made PHA-based takeaway cups, lids, straws and cutlery, a breakthrough in sustainability.
- Patent Filed: Ecopha Biotech has filed a world-first patent for their PHA manufacturing process in Australia.
- Global Milestone: PHA is a next-generation material that safely biodegrades in marine, soil, and compost conditions - no microplastics, no compromise.
- Design Meets Science: Designed by Terra Sol (award-winning design company) in partnership with Ecopha, Australia's leading PHA manufacturer.
- Urgent Call to Action: With the rise of plastic bans, Terra Sol is calling for policymakers and businesses to prioritise PHA over false solutions like PLA and aqueous-coated paper.
- Now Available: The designer PHA cups are available in retail packs and event-ready quantities for immediate distribution.
About us:
Terra Sol is an award-winning Australian design company creating next-generation packaging and product experiences. In partnership with leading biotech firm EcoPHA, Terra Sol delivers the only certified Australian-made PHA-based food service products on the market. Together, they are leading a new era of design-driven, scientifically-backed, sustainable solutions, made for Australia, and the world.
