Enzide Technologies worked with CSIRO to develop plastic-eating super enzyme technology
\nPatented technology works to break down plastics when they have finished being used
\nCompany working to advance its tech and get it out of the lab and into \u2018real life\u2019 for impact<\/p>\n
Plastic pollution has been touted as a major global problem with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimating between 19 to 23 million tonnes of plastic waste annually leaks into aquatic ecosystems, contaminating lakes, rivers, and oceans.<\/p>\n
The UNEP says<\/a> equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world\u2019s oceans, rivers, and lakes daily.<\/p>\n The organisation says that plastic pollution can disrupt habitats and natural processes, diminishing ecosystems\u2019 resilience to climate change and impacting the livelihoods, food production capacity, and social well-being of millions of people.<\/p>\n Effects of chemicals in plastic on human health is also coming under scrutiny. Perth-based Minderoo Foundation<\/a> has undertaken the first ever Plastic Health Map collating research measuring the potential human health effects caused by a wide range of plastic chemicals.<\/p>\n According to the foundation\u2019s website the map brings together data from more than 3,500 primary studies from 1960 to 2022, which can be explored by researchers, clinicians, and policymakers.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n One Australian company is working to tackle the plastic pollution problem with plastic-eating super enzyme technology developed by leading scientists at the CSIRO.<\/p>\n Enzide Technologies managing director Marcus Gracey<\/a> told Stockhead<\/em> the idea was originally for home compostable coffee pods but the CSIRO lead scientist working on the project Dr Pete Cass introduced the company to emerging enzyme technology which naturally could eat plastics.<\/p>\n \u201cDr Cass wanted to investigate the opportunity with Enzide Technologies to build those enzymes into biodegradable plastic products during manufacturing so at the end of life they break down very fast,\u201d Gracey says.<\/p>\n \u201cSo much of our plastic doesn\u2019t ever get the chance to get to recycling, be processed carefully or turned into new products and is actually dumped and lost into the environment and into our oceans.<\/p>\n \u201cThe idea was to build a pollution solution inside plastic from the start and as a company we thought plastic without pollution sounded amazing and we knew it would take Australia\u2019s best scientists to make this happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Peter Cass & Marcus Gracey. Pic: Supplied<\/p>\n Gracey says Enzide Technologies was willing to fund the research and support the technology, which is heat stable so it can withstand manufacturing processes, thrives in natural ambient temperatures, and salt water.<\/p>\n \u201cThe CSIRO spent five years developing this technology and in 2023 we acquired it outright from the organisation and have now patented it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cIt can be added inside bioplastic products and can get to work and break down plastics when they have finished being used,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Cass joined Enzide Technologies as their chief scientist in mid-2023.\u00a0 He says the researchers discovered enzymes found in nature that thrive in harsh environments capable of eating plastics.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the lab we were able to make them stronger, work faster and we engineered them to cope with the tough conditions of plastic manufacturing,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cThe enzymes can be added to the plastic while it\u2019s being made or to plastic waste.<\/p>\n \u201cPlastic with our enzyme inside will break apart very fast and microbes finish the job.\u201d<\/p>\n Cass says when the enzymes are done all that is left is water, naturally occurring carbon dioxide and no harmful microplastics.<\/p>\n Enzide Technologies has taken up a lab at Monash University\u2019s Innovation Labs in Melbourne to access Monash\u2019s state-of-the-art facilities and experts to help advance the technology.<\/p>\n Cass says in the Monash lab the company\u2019s researchers are creating new protein formulations and testing degradation of the plastic in water and compost.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While alternatives such as reusable coffee cups or drink bottles are helping to solve the plastic problems, Gracey says unfortunately plastic is still very much in demand and will be for years to come.<\/p>\n \u201cData shows plastic production will triple by 2060 and 91% of plastic is never recycled,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cThe big problem for plastic is it can last for hundreds of years and has this weird ability of escaping out into the environment, particularly our oceans.<\/p>\n \u201cKnowing people will continue to use plastic but don\u2019t want the harm that comes from it, we need to fix the plastic problem at manufacturing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we need is responsible plastic, the uses and convenience without the harm to planet and people.\u201d<\/p>\n Gracey says the optimised enzyme developed and ticked off by CSIRO is now continuing to be worked on with the company having several goals including increasing the speed of degradation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe recently put it in thick heavy-duty plastic in the last quarter of last year that would normally last years and got it to break down within weeks,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will make the technology better in the next 12 months so that plastic will break down in days.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Gracey says the company is having discussions with a leading global enzyme developer based in the US to fast track further development of its patented enzyme technology to make it even more heat tolerant, stable, and quicker acting.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are also starting to talk with an interesting company in Europe well-known for developing no-impact products,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n He says the European company had previously explored enzymes inside plastics but couldn\u2019t make it work because they were using off-the-shelf technology which couldn\u2019t withstand the heat of manufacturing.<\/p>\n \u201cOurs has been designed by the CSIRO to withstand those processes,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cWith our US-based enzyme company we will make the technology even better in the next year and with our European product manufacturer we will test it in products people would recognise.\u201d<\/p>\n Gracey says the two products the company is heading towards \u2013 because they\u2019re a big environmental problem \u2013 are e-commerce packaging and plastic bags.<\/p>\n \u201cIn Australia we\u2019ve got used to the bans on plastic bags but globally in 2024 the world will use 5 trillion plastic bags, it\u2019s a horrendous problem,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cBags and e-commerce packaging ends up in the environment causing grief and that\u2019s not just us saying that but the UN, OECD and other environmental organisations.\u201d<\/p>\n Gracey says there is huge demand from brands and consumers as well for packaging that doesn\u2019t harm the environment.<\/p>\n \u201cPackaging may say it\u2019s recyclable or compostable but in the fine print often says it has to be collected or taken to a special industrial facility,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will design our products to the highest home compost and ocean certifications.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeople want to be able to conveniently dispose of packaging at home and know hand on heart that it composts just like any other organic matter; our technology makes that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey also want to know that if it escapes into the wild that it won\u2019t cause harm, Enzide makes that possible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Gracey says Enzide Technologies offers investors, manufacturers, and consumers a credible alternative to fossil fuel and single-use plastic, with patented, scalable technology and significant market demand.<\/p>\n While not ASX-listed at this stage, the company is progressing B Corporation certification and says it is funded by venture-capitalists and high net-worth investors who see potential in the technology and are wanting to make an impact.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s impact capital, people wanting to make the world a better place through their investments,\u201d Gracey says.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s complex science but a simple idea of plastic without pollution, the photos of plastic after a month of our enzymes eating away are compelling.<\/p>\n The company is capital raising at the moment, which is being managed by the team at Modena Ventures in Perth<\/a> who were an early investor, to fund development of its enzyme manufacturing additive and first commercial\u00a0 products.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The post \u2018Plastic without pollution\u2019 \u2013 how Enzide is tackling a major environmental problem<\/a> appeared first on Stockhead<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What is the answer to plastic pollution?<\/h2>\n
Breaking down plastics in weeks, even days<\/h2>\n
Collaboration discussions underway<\/h2>\n
Investing for the environmental good<\/h2>\n