Woolworths supports Samsara Eco’s enzymatic tech with recycled container rollouts in Australia

23 Sep 2021 --- Retail chain Woolworths is backing a new Australian plastic recycling start-up called Samsara Eco that uses enzymatic technology to reduce the need for virgin plastic production.

Samsara packaging is expected to hit Woolworths shelves in the next two years, starting with containers used for its own-brand mini-tomatoes. 

“We utilize a class of enzymes called hydrolases, which acts as a catalyst to break down polymers into monomers – the building blocks of plastics. The process is still being optimized, but we can go from bottle to monomers in less than an hour in the laboratory,” Professor Colin Jackson, chief scientific officer at Samsara Eco, tells PackagingInsights.

Championing Carbios’ success
Speaking exclusively with PackagingInsights, Samsara’s Jackson shares the company’s perspective on Carbios, a French biochemistry company widely regarded as the pioneer of enzymatic recycling.

In the past few months, Carbios has partnered with Michelin on car tires made from enzymatically-recycled PET, joined forces with Nestlé on recycled PET (rPET) Perrier water bottles and collaborated with L’Oréal on rPET cosmetic bottles.

Before and after enzyme degradation.“Ending plastic pollution is a big problem that will take a joint effort,” says Jackson. “We really hope Carbios can be successful and believe our process can sit alongside theirs as they both have different advantages, and together we can help end plastic pollution – a positive for all.”

“We’ve been inspired by Carbios showing what is possible in this space but also by all of the fundamental academic research on plastic degrading enzymes that dates back many years,” he continues. 

“We think our process has some exciting differences that will allow us to potentially utilize mixed plastic waste in the future.”

Where Woolworths comes in
Woolworths has already committed to turning the first 5,000 metric tons of recycled Samsara plastic into packaging for its own-brand products. The retailer estimates this is the plastic equivalent to the weight of almost nine A380 aircraft.

“We’re working hard to reduce plastic, but we know there are some products where there simply aren’t effective alternatives. Samsara is paving the way for a future where these products could become part of an infinite loop for recycling,” says Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci.

“That’s why we’re partnering with leading Australian scientists to create a better tomorrow by co-founding Samsara and turning used plastic into new again, so there’s no need to make more.”

Clam-shell plastic containers, like those used for baby tomatoes, is one of the items Woolworths is looking to replace with Samsara plastic.Woolworths is one of 60 signatories of the ANZPAC Plastics Pact, a cross-regional program uniting businesses, NGOs and governments behind a series of ambitious 2025 targets, including eliminating “unnecessary” plastics and ensuring “necessary” plastics are reusable, recyclable or compostable.

Alongside Woolworths, Samsara Eco is backed by The Australian National University and deep tech venture fund Main Sequence, founded by CSIRO.

Key environmental advantages
Samsara’s initial focus is PET and polyester, which is commonly used to create plastic bottles and fast fashion. The start-up estimates this accounts for roughly a fifth of plastic produced annually.

However, Samsara’s long-term mission is to tackle the mixed bale of plastic – what it views as a “world first” – by advancing the process to eventually make any kind of plastic infinitely recyclable.

Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci and Samsara CEO Paul Riley.“This means we will never have to create plastic from virgin materials like fossil fuels again, and we can divert plastic from our oceans and landfill. This gives consumer brands the tools to continue using plastic with zero tradeoff,” highlights Samsara CEO and co-founder Paul Riley. 

The process is environmentally friendly for other reasons as well: “While the final numbers from our process won’t be known until the factory is functional – we’re currently working in a lab environment – it is likely to avoid any need for high temperatures, thus being relatively energy-efficient,” Jackson explains. 

“Because we use a catalyst (enzyme), each of which can break down millions of chemical bonds at ambient temperature, the process is relatively efficient.”

Keeping the element of surprise
Especially for nascent technologies like enzymatic recycling, driving down costs is the “art” to process scaleup. 

“We have lots of ideas about how we can use the enzymes more efficiently. We are also talking to some of the most cutting-edge companies in Europe around enzyme technology to do this – but some things have to remain a secret for now,” concludes Jackson.

By Anni Schleicher