In Australia, startup Ecopha is pioneering the use of pongamia oil from a tree native to Australia, India and Southeast Asia to produce the bioplastic polyhydroxyalkanoate. The pongamia tree is known for flourishing in arid and challenging climates with little need for irrigation, fertilizers, or pesticides.
“Innovation is at the heart of Ecopha’s mission to develop cutting-edge PHA bioplastics technology,” said Dr. Wilson Ling, CEO of Ecopha, tells Sustainable Plastics. “With this breakthrough, we are strengthening Australia’s position as a global leader in PHA bioplastics. Our use of pongamia oil opens new possibilities for sustainable packaging and industrial applications, delivering both economic and environmental benefits.”
To date, most research on the non-edible oilseeds from the pongamia tree has centered on biodiesel.