Samsara Eco opens plastic recycling plant in Australia
Biotech company Samsara Eco has initiated its first plant in Jerrabomberra, Australia, to produce virgin-identical, low-carbon circular materials such as recycled nylon 6,6 and polyester with applications for the packaging industry.
The plant and Samsara Eco headquarters in Jerrabomberra are home to the company’s enzymatic recycling technology EosEco. The technology uses “AI enzymes” to break down mixed plastics into recycled raw materials, preventing landfilling.
“The opening of Jerrabomberra is a milestone for us and the broader circular economy. In four years, we’ve scaled from bench research to pilot and demonstration, and now our first plant. This is a true tipping point for circularity, shifting circular materials from early-stage innovation to mainstream reality,” says Paul Riley, CEO and founder at Samsara Eco.
The facility houses Samsara’s proprietary AI-powered enzyme discovery R&D platform aimed at finding recycling solutions for a broad range of plastics, which Packaging Insights discussed with Riley.
“Brand demand and supportive new regulations are helping to clear the path forward. Our new facility will help brands deliver circularity with the capacity to produce the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of garments annually,” he continues.
Supporting net-zero in Australia
Riley asserts that the company’s technology supports Australia’s net-zero targets, while driving economic growth, resilience, and productivity.
“We’re creating an entirely new industry to unlock major export opportunities and bring new skills to market, while also helping to position Australia as a leader in circular technology and a global exporter of circular materials.”
A consortium of Samsara Eco’s investors, including Carley Phillips, principal at Greycroft, also commented on the milestone: “Samsara Eco’s new Jerrabomberra facility marks an important step toward scaling circular materials and showcasing the power of technology to transform industries. We are excited to continue supporting the team as they bring this innovation to market and drive the growth of the circular economy.”
Jan Marchewski, associate at Hitachi Ventures, says the company is impressed by Samsara Eco’s ability to deliver results on time and on budget.
“The opening of the Jerrabomberra facility is a testament to the team’s execution. This hub will enable Samsara Eco to test AI-discovered enzymes at scale in collaboration with partners, further cementing its market leadership in enzymatic recycling.”
Phil Morle, partner at Main Sequence, comments: “Samsara Eco opening its first plant for infinite plastic recycling in regional Australia is an example of Australian ingenuity leading the world to create industries for the next generation of growth. In this case, the first step to eradicating the problem of plastic waste.”
