Brad and Narelle Scott, founders of Transmutation.
Transmutation is the 2024 Telstra Best of Business Awards National Embracing Innovation winner. It's a craft-sized recycling and manufacturing business based in Robe, South Australia. It manufactures and sells circular economy products, proving that plastic waste can be great again.
The business uses plastic waste to create new sustainable products. These include bespoke homewares, bowls, platters and even construction equipment. Their retail outlet also has a myriad of other products made by other micro-recyclers.
We spoke to Brad Scott, founder and director of Transmutation, to learn how he created a business based on purpose, passion and innovation.
Appropriately for a business named after the process of changing into another form, Transmutation started as something very different to what it has become.
After studying chemistry at university, Brad’s career took him into the army, and then big business. Transmutation was Brad’s logistics side hustle before he stepped away from corporate life to travel. He then returned to one of his early passions.
I’ve always been fascinated by chemistry. I saw an opportunity to put my degree to good use and tackle one of society’s big challenges.
- Brad Scott, founder of Transmutation
Brad discovered Precious Plastic, an online open-source project for recycling plastic waste using homemade machines. This inspired him to combine that idea with his chemistry degree. Starting in a shed in Robe, SA, he built recycling machines using car jacks and ovens. This led to the creation and growth of Transmutation as a plastic recycling company.
Plastic is a vital ingredient in many items we use every day. But there’s a problem.
"We have all the plastic in Australia we’ll ever need. We're drowning in plastic. We really don't have to make any more of it at this stage in planet Earth's life," Brad says.
A selection of Transmutation's sustainable tableware. All products are handmade in Australia using post consumer plastic.
Clean Up Australia estimates Australia produces 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year – about 100 kg per person.
Of this, only 13% of plastic is recovered and 84% is sent to landfill.
Australia imports 95% of the virgin plastic bead used to manufacture here, according to Brad.
Transmutation helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by recycling a range of different plastic waste products, including powder coating waste, agricultural waste and bread bag tags.
Brad forged a partnership with Dulux to recycle 130 tons of waste powder coating from the paint company.
"We invented a product using the powder coat waste," Brad says. "We call it PostPrime® Plastic, and it’s a new polymer that can be reused."
Transmutation uses the PostPrime® Plastic to produce bar chairs, which the construction industry uses to reinforce concrete. Brad and his team also produce plastic pellets that other manufacturers can use to create new products.
Additionally, Transmutation recycles bread tags into homewares.
Transmutation collects bread tags Australia-wide through a charity partner. They then upcycle these bread tags into homewares designed and sold by Country Road.
Transmutation's sustainable business model is built on collaboration rather than simple transactional relationships.
Working with nationwide brands such as Dulux and Country Road benefits both sides.
Transmutation’s sustainable products can help businesses become more sustainable.
"We provide full provenance and ESG qualifications for our plastic," Brad explains. "Construction companies can get all their sustainability products credentialled. And they get a sovereign Australian product that is the most sustainable plastic."
By forming industry partnerships, Transmutation gains access to raw materials, established markets, and the support of national brands.
Transmutation can use the brand and market reach of their partners in exchange for innovative and sustainable products. This approach reduces waste, promotes recycling and benefits all involved.
Transmutation collaborates with partners across the country. With only a small team in South Australia, Brad wouldn’t be able to operate in such a decentralised model without the use of technology.
"Through technology, we can be anywhere. We've got a good finger on the pulse of our business wherever we are," says Brad.
You can read more about how technology – from connectivity to artificial intelligence – is powering Transmutation's recycling business here.
Transmutation has already achieved significant milestones. But Brad says the Transmutation story still has a long way to go.
"I want to scale the business and make it as big as possible. If we’re successful – if we keep growing and making money – we help change perspectives of recycling. We can prove recycling can be profitable. The more we do this, the more people will follow, and we can recycle more plastic."
It’s an outcome that’s good both for business and the planet.
The Transmutation story shows what’s possible when you combine passion, expertise and the will to get things done.
Here are few takeaways:
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