Phantm: Lead ‘Material’ Change – The Future of Alternative Materials
Opportunity for
Early adopters, industry partners and investors with real-world, at-scale fossil-based material applications to collaborate on the transition to regenerative, next-generation polymers.
This opportunity focuses on enabling practical, scalable alternatives to legacy materials that reduce carbon impact, manage regulatory risk and deliver commercial performance.
Opportunity description
Industry challenge
Industry is operating under increasing regulatory pressure and growing constraints associated with legacy, fossil-based materials. The transition to lower-carbon, more sustainable material systems is no longer optional – it is rapidly becoming a regulatory, commercial and reputational imperative.
In Australia alone, approximately 4 million tonnes of plastic are used each year. Only around 14% is recycled, and less than 0.5% is truly circular, with the majority ending up in landfill or the environment. Globally, plastic production now exceeds 400 million tonnes annually, driving material waste, emissions and long-term resource risk.
These pressures are not theoretical. They are increasingly embedded in regulation, carbon pricing mechanisms, procurement requirements and shifting consumer expectations across multiple sectors.
Why now
After six years of applied research and development, Phantm has progressed beyond material feasibility and to commercial readiness. Scalable production pathways, validated supply chains and proven manufacturing capability now enable a clear transition from R&D to pilot and early commercial deployment over the next 12-18 months.
At the same time, regulatory momentum, carbon accountability and market expectations are converging. This alignment of technical maturity and external pressure creates a narrow but critical window in which next-generation materials must move from innovation to implementation – representing a genuine inflection point for industry adoption.
Current opportunity
Phantm is advancing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) as a next-generation material platform, with premium wine packaging used as one illustrative application.
PHAs are biodegradable polymers that can be produced from organic waste streams and, unlike fossil-based plastics, leave no harmful residue in soil or marine environments (i.e. from nature back to nature). Global brands including Mars and Coca-Cola are already investing heavily in PHA R&D, signalling strong commercial momentum.
Beyond material substitution, PHAs offer future circular potential. As drop-in alternatives to conventional plastics, they can integrate with existing processing and recovery systems, while also enabling closed-loop models where organic waste streams become feedstock for new material production.
This opportunity is intended for strategic, industry-aligned and impact-focused investors and partners with real-world, at-scale material challenges. Ideal collaborators bring experience in packaging, materials, agriculture, manufacturing or consumer goods and are seeking commercially viable pathways to reduce carbon, manage regulatory risk and transition away from problematic materials.
Collaboration may include co-development, trials, validation, capital investment and early market adoption.
Opportunity background
Phantm is a materials and packaging technology company focused on enabling the transition away from fossil-based materials through applied R&D and commercialisation.
Supply chain analysis confirms access to cost-effective PHA feedstocks and additives from established suppliers. Proven compounders and manufacturers can produce custom PHA blends using existing equipment, enabling scalable production from pilot through to commercial volumes.
Phantm’s point of difference lies in combining materials innovation with commercial discipline, ensuring new materials are viable to manufacture, competitive on cost and ready to scale, not confined to the laboratory.
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