Santevation

Realising potential

Cooperative Research Australia strengthens and promotes the transformative potential of collaborative, industry-led research through knowledge exchange, professional development and advocacy.

About The CRC Program

The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program is an Australian Government initiative established in 1990 to foster industry-led collaborations between researchers, industry, and end users.

The CRC Program connects researchers with industry and government to promote applied research. It offers support through two primary elements:

CRC Grants: Supporting medium to long-term industry-led collaborations, up to 10 years.
CRC-P Grants: Supporting short-term, industry-led collaborative research, up to 3 years.

Innovation and Science Australia and its CRC Advisory Committee provide strategic oversight of the CRC Program.

For more information visit the CRC Program website.

Innovative Development of Biodegradable

Healthcare Packaging Products

Latest Updates
(As of September 2024)

CoMilestone 1 & 2: The PHA fermentation process is progressing well in Perth.
Patent Filing: Preparations are underway for patent filing related to the process.
New Research Facility: Ecopha Biotech has recently opened a new Bioplastics Innovation Hub.
PHA Material Development: UNSW is currently studying and improving the PHA material, and progress is meeting expectations.

About the Project

The biodegradable plastic packaging market is expanding rapidly, driven by increasing demand for sustainable solutions, stricter regulations, and growing consumer preference for eco-friendly products. The biodegradable plastic packaging market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17% from 2022 to 2030.

UNSW, Ecopha Biotech, and Santevation are leading a CRC-P application to develop sustainable healthcare packaging (SHP) products using biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)s. These PHAs, produced from canola oil fermentation, will replace petroleum-based plastics and contribute significantly to reducing healthcare plastic waste (1.25 million tons/year). The SHP products will be applicable to various markets, including drug delivery/pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and orthopaedics.

Partners of the project
University of NSW
Ecopha Biotech Pty Ltd
Santevation Pty Ltd
Refresh Waters Pty Ltd