Episode 61 -- Paul Riley from Samsara Eco

@AuManufacturing Conversations

Welcome to this special episode of @AuManufacturing Conversations with Brent Balinski, one which we're running as part of our quest to identify Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers.
Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers is a new campaign by @AuManufacturing. It has been made possible by the generous support of MYOB, SMC Corporation Australia, and Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions. Be sure to check our website and social media channels for regular updates, including profiles of nominees and other information.
In this episode, We hear from Paul Riley, CEO and founder of Samsara Eco. He tells us about how Samsara's enzyme-based technology works, how the company innovates, why the nation needs to reverse the hollowing out of its plastics industry, and more.

Episode guide

1:20 – An introduction to Riley and Samsara.

3:25 – The approach has always been with a view to handling a mixed bale of plastic.

4:04 – Enzymatic depolymerisation explained, and its genesis in a discovery in Japan. “The enzyme is like a little Pac-Man.

5:48 - Displacing fossil fuels by harvesting monomers from waste plastic.

7:10 – Enzymes that are designed by computer and new to nature. They can currently handle five types of plastic.

8:58 – How it addresses some of the challenges in scaling up.

10:03 – The only waste that comes out of the process.

11:05 – The low carbon footprint of the process and why this is commercially beneficial.

12:38 – The enzymes like to operate in a temperature range of 45 - 55 degree range and can produce monomers in an hour.

13:20 – The plastic is never melted, which is “fundamentally different” to other recycling approaches.

14:28 – How the enzymes are designed, developed and grown.

15:35 – The timing of their Series A raise and the downturn in venture investment.

16:55 – Why circular plastics hubs are needed and who would be involved.

18:55 – Australia lacks polymer processing capacity, and this presents “enormous sovereign risk.”

20:06 – Innovation and what it means at Samsara.

23:30 – One company is only one part of the solution. Things like redesigning are very important.

25:20 – Why we need to reverse the long-term offshoring trend.

Relevant links
Samsara's website
https://www.samsaraeco.com/
We are trying to identify Australia’s 50 most innovative manufacturers. Nominate now

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