Australian Biotech Ecopha Expands into China as Global Demand for Sustainable Plastics Surges - EcoPHA Biotech

18 Jun 2025 6:31 PM

Australia's Ecopha Biotech has officially launched a landmark joint venture in China: Ecopha Biotech (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., marking a pivotal moment in the company’s global expansion and reinforcing Australia’s role as a leader in next-generation sustainable materials.

Ecopha is at the forefront of developing PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), a revolutionary bioplastic that biodegrades fully in marine and soil environments within months, leaving no microplastics behind. The company’s materials are already making waves in Australia, with production based in Melbourne, R&D in Perth, and design partnerships in Sydney.

The new joint venture in Suzhou will see the construction of a cutting-edge production facility in Taihu New City, with a target capacity of 10,000 tonnes of PHA per year. The partnership brings Ecopha’s breakthrough pongamia-based bioplastic technology to China, one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for sustainable packaging.

"The establishment of Ecopha Biotech (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. is a major milestone in bringing Ecopha’s innovative Pongamia-based bioplastic technology to China. With the country’s growing demand for sustainable materials, this joint venture is well-positioned to scale PHA production and capture emerging market opportunities across key sectors such as food and healthcare packaging."
— Dr. Wilson Ling, Co-Founder & CEO, Ecopha Biotech Pty Ltd

With the Chinese government prioritising green transformation and phasing out traditional plastics, Ecopha Biotech (Suzhou) is perfectly positioned to meet rising demand in sectors such as food and healthcare.

The company’s international expansion arrives at a time when the global bioplastics market is accelerating, yet still dominated by legacy players and costly feedstocks. Ecopha’s proprietary process, now patent-filed represents a game-changing, cost-effective path to large-scale production.

From local roots to global reach, Ecopha is not just responding to the plastic crisis, it’s rewriting the playbook for how sustainable innovation scales.

Key Facts:

• • Ecopha Biotech (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. is a new joint venture between Australian climate tech innovator Ecopha Biotech Pty Ltd and strategic partners in China.

  • Official signing took place in Suzhou, China on June 12, 2025, with support from local government officials and academic leaders.

  • The venture will build a 10,000-tonne annual capacity production facility for marine-safe, fully biodegradable PHA bioplastic.

  • Ecopha is the first company to license pongamia-based PHA bioplastic technology in China (patent pending).

  • The new facility will serve growing demand across food and healthcare packaging sectors in China.

  • Ecopha has active operations in Melbourne (manufacturing), Perth (R&D), and Sydney (design via partner Terra Sol).

  • PHA is a plant-based bioplastic that breaks down without leaving microplastics, even in marine environments.

  • Global PHA market projected to grow from USD $188M (2023) to $367M by 2030.

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About us:

About Ecopha Biotech
Ecopha Biotech is an Australian climate tech company developing marine-safe, fully biodegradable plastics. With operations across Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, Ecopha produces PHA-based products that break down naturally without microplastics. Its patented technology is now expanding globally to meet growing demand for sustainable packaging.

Contact details:

[email protected]

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