When Research Meets Manufacturing, Australia Wins

Adam Drinkwater proudly represented B and C Plastics at The University of Queensland’s Bioplastics Research Highlights 2025: Innovative Applications event, focused on emerging sustainable materials and real-world applications.

Over the past year, we have partnered with UQ researchers Clement Matthew Chan and Aphra A. to take a bioplastic medical tray from laboratory concept to a production-ready product. This collaboration is a strong example of how research and industry can work together to move innovation beyond the lab and into scalable manufacturing.

Projects like this show what is possible when Australian research capability is matched with local manufacturing expertise. With the right partners, ideas can be commercialised at scale while keeping knowledge, capability and impact here in Australia.

We are looking forward to another year of collaboration as we continue supporting UQ’s sustainability programs alongside other industry partners.

Event highlights included:

Starch-based food packaging presented by Dr Emilie Gauthier
Bio-composites development and scale-up presented by Dr Clement Matthew Chan
Thin, tough and biodegradable blown films from PHAs presented by Dr Samuel Lawless
Controlled release fertiliser and biodegradable coatings presented by Dr Ian Levett

The evening delivered insightful presentations and practical updates that reinforced the strength of Australia’s research and manufacturing ecosystem.