Building a post petrochemical world

In episode 4 of The Skills Exchange, we speak to 2023 George Alexander Foundation Fellow and Founder of Other Matter, Jessie French, about her international Fellowship journey researching alternative materials to petrochemical plastics.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

Image Credit: The Myth of Nature – agaG1 [installation], 23rd Biennale of Sydney - rīvus, The Cutaway, Barangaroo, 12 March – 13 June 2022. Photo by Jessica Maurer.

About Jessie

Jessie French started her journey as an artist, with her artistic practice examining the implications faced when using petrochemical plastics. Envisioning what a post-petrochemical world would look like, she developed a sustainable algae-based plastic as a replacement.

From her invention, Other Matter was born, a business French founded that seeks to push forward and showcase the possibilities of working without petrochemicals.

Start of Jessie's Fellowship journey

After being told about the Fellowship by Hanover house studio neighbour and past Fellow Ella Saddington, French applied to a 2022 George Alexander Fellowship, recognising the synergy between herself and George Alexander as inventors.

Image credit: Phillip Huynh

On her Fellowship, French travelled to New York, Munich and London, visiting research material labs and exploring new materials to investigate the possibility of scaling a sustainable plastic, such as her algae based biopolymer, into a potential alternative sold alongside petrochemicals.

Not only interested in the science behind the production of circular materials, French was curious about the social context surrounding the introduction of sustainable biopolymers. She observed how these materials were being received and integrated by the market in Europe, enabling her to change her business strategy to adopt a more 'world view' approach to fit within the Australian landscape.

French highlights that there is a significant knowledge gap amongst Australians -- most are unaware of the human harm and toxic impact of petrochemicals. Contrastingly in Europe, French engaged with commercial companies that were already well aware they couldn’t use PVC signage due to strict EU regulations.

Image credit: Phillip Huynh

The need for circular material research in Australia

Based on our geographical location, Australia lags behind some countries, particularly in the sustainability sector and moving towards a circular economy.

Europe is at the forefront of sustainability policy, everyday cultural awareness and environmental priorities surrounding materials. In scaling manufacturing to the Australian context, French believes international research is crucial in planning for the future and understanding how potential social, political and economic factors might impact her business.

A Matter of Matter – agaG1, 23rd Biennale of Sydney - rīvus, Artspace at National Art School, 12 March – 13 June 2022. Photos by Jessica Maurer.

Launching in Australia

There’s significant interest behind French's work whose algae-based plastic has attracted attention from environmentalists, scientists and commercial brands like Aesop. Whilst her sustainable material is still being crafted by hand, French is actively collaborating with partners to explore pathways to scale up manufacturing. Her company, Other Matter, has yet to release a commercial product, with the founder insisting that production must be scaled up before anything is brought to market.

Shifting into the first step of French's vision of a post petrochemical world is not just about materials, it encompasses systems of government, economies and other industries that are resisting change to a circular economy. French highlights the scale of these challenges, as her Fellowship research uncovers how the petrochemical industry is bolstered by commercial interests and subsidies.

The Fellow's international applied research and ongoing work will have long-term impacts in Australia. Transitioning to a petrochemical free market is not an instant change, and having been accustomed to this economy, French notes that "the world might not be ready for it."

Whilst we work towards this transition, French believes prioritising sustainable alternatives and educating the public of petrochemical plastics' harmful impacts is the first step to promote and integrate new material development.

Visit Other Matter to learn more about Jessie French's inspiring work.