New & Sustainable Materials Expo Recap

At the end of September, we wrapped up an expo event featuring 9 innovators who shared their creative ways of preserving and reusing plastics, waste, and materials. 

We gathered a vibrant group of 175 attendees, including entrepreneurs, innovators, students, investors and people from different countries and industries. We’ve never seen a Zoom chat so filled with enthusiasm and appreciate the amount of support given for the innovators.

Thank you to the 9 innovators who have shared valuable inspiration and encouraged us to take responsibility in creating a sustainable future. We hope the expo encouraged everyone to look more carefully at the actions we take in preserving and using materials. 

We'd like to reflect on the main highlights from each of our speakers for those of you who missed the event or haven't had enough of the innovation that's out there. Supporting these organisations is one step for you to take action. If you can help with any of the asks below, please reach out and connect with them through the links provided. 

Meet the 9 innovators

Defy Design

The first to present was Defy Design, whose micro-factories recycle plastic in less than 30 mins. Sam Davies, the Co-founder of Defy and product designer, looked at the problem of waste and thought to himself: "What's a good way to intervene with plastic waste?". From shampoo bottles to brand-new combs, Defy has opened micro-factories around Sydney to collect and reinvent plastic waste in different local communities. 

What's next for Defy Design? They are looking to connect with anyone interested in closed-loop products for their business or in local government looking to collaborate on waste collection. If this sounds like you, get in touch!

 

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Planet Protector Packaging

Next up was Planet Protector Packaging. They have created an alternative to plastic packaging with their sheep waste wool insulation. In collaboration with players from many industries - food, seafood, pharmaceutical and art - their product can shift retailers into a sustainable ecosystem by changing how they pack their products. 

Currently, they're looking to connect with food, personal care or pharmaceutical manufacturers looking for polystyrene alternatives. If you're one of these manufacturers, feel free to get in touch.

Sustinent

The last innovator of the first round was Sustinent, an "ecosystem business" with "biotechnology at heart". Phillip Eilery saw the potential of green waste as an "untouched resource" and he began to invent solutions by converting green waste into a range of value-added products, including building materials and animal foods. 

Sustinent is in the progress of becoming a global sustainable partner for many industries. If you are an impact investor or into organisations in the construction industry, get in touch now to discuss your needs and collaborate with them. 

SMaRT @ UNSW

Who would've known we could make furniture out of waste? Meet SMaRT@UNSW, our next creative innovator who transforms e-waste into "products that people can connect with". From metallic wastes to green ceramics to coffee tables, we're excited to see the organisation grow and change the future of sustainable manufacturing.

For those of you who are interested, SMaRT@UNSW is looking to connect to organisations with difficult to recycle waste streams. If this is you, or anyone you might know of, get in touch with them now!

Rapstrap 

Next up, we have Rapstrap, another innovator who is solving one of our biggest everyday waste - cable ties! With their alternative tie strips, we could use cable ties while being mindful of our waste and its harmful effects on the environment. Their strips are biodegradable in soil and give more ties per strap, which changes the way we single-use plastic items. 

With their goal to expand their product use around Australia, Rapstrap wants to connect with end-users of cable ties, global distributors, and Australian manufacturers. If this is you, or if you know someone, get in touch now! 

Other Matter  

The attendees were continuously amazed by the various solutions that innovators produce to promote sustainability, including our next innovator, Other Matter, an experimental studio that embodies the combination of art and science. Starting with "art practices and collaborations with architecture firms," Jessie French (Founder of Other Matter) builds a creative studio and encourages others to make art using green waste and materials. 

As they continue to expand their reach to others, Other Matter would like to connect with investors and anyone who can share advice on licensing and IP. Get in touch if you're an investor, or if you know anyone who could help out. 

Great Wrap 

How much cling wrap do you use every day? Sometimes we're not aware of the waste that we produce, and this is where innovators like Great Wrap serve to minimise our impact on the environment. Great Wrap started off with a vision to "work backwards" from the creation of palette wrap. Now, they have built a team of scientists and engineers to introduce hospitality and other industries with their compostable cling wrap. Their next mission is to work with food packaging and eventually "transform everything we have on our kitchen shelves!" 

Great Wrap is currently seeking to expand their team by looking for talent, as well as investors, that are interested in being part of their Series A raise. If this sounds like you or someone you know, get in touch.

Xefco 

Our last speaker at the expo was Xefco, an innovative startup whose reinventing the polluted textile industry. While preserving comfort, quality, and warmth, their textiles have 50% less insulation than other fabrics. With Xefco's innovative techniques, fabric manufacturers can create high-quality textiles while preserving their use of materials and the efforts needed. 

To introduce their innovation to the broader textile industry, Xefco is looking to connect with fashion brands, textile manufacturers or supply chain partners offering raw materials or recycling processes to improve their manufacturing. If you know someone, get in touch now.

Piñatex

Speaking about sustainable textile manufacturing, Piñatex is another innovator who produces a sustainable leather alternative out of pineapple leaves. Dr Carmen (Founder of Pinatex) initially sought to replace mass leather production and created her version of non-woven textile manufacturing. From handbags, clothing, and shoes, Pinatex offers a range of products and sustainable alternatives in fashion. Get in touch with Pinatex for any queries. 

Special Guests

We thank our special guests for joining us at our expo and sharing their passion and vision for a sustainable future. Our guests include Vicki Treadell (British High Commissioner to Australia), Barbara Moore (CEO of the Biennale of Sydney), Helena Salmon (Season Director UK Australia Season and Country Director, Australia British Council), and Lara Krasnostein (Head of UK Science and Innovation Network).

What's next?

We encourage you to visit the 23rd Biennale of Sydney (12 March - 13 June) to see how the revolutionary materials showcased in the expo have been used at the exhibition. Subscribe and stay up to date on the latest news and opportunities from the Biennale of Sydney here.

Our Partners

We want to thank and acknowledge our partners the Biennale of Sydney and the UK Great Campaign which is part of UK Australia Season, a collaboration between the British Council and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the UK Government’s Science and Innovation Network.