Australia’s best innovators based in Logan
Loganholme’s Blocktexx is Australia’s hero.
The tech company is changing the way we approach one of the most devastating threats to our environnment – landfill.
December 3, 2024
For its efforts, Blocktexx has been named ‘The Australian Hero’ – the top honour at the 2024 InnovationAus Awards For Excellence.
Australia is the second highest consumer of textiles per person in the world, with the average person disposing 23 kilograms of clothing to landfill every year, according to the federal government.
Clothing makes up 93% of the textile waste Australians generate every year.
Blocktexx is doing its best to make a dint in that statistic by improving the way polyester can be recycled.
Led by co-founder Graham Ross, the company has developed the world’s first commercial-scale chemical recycling facility that can separate the cotton from polyester fibres, which can then be used to create other materials.
One example of this solution is hydromulch, a mixture of grass seed and fertlliser that was recently trialled on Logan grass.
The recycled fibres can also be used to create other textiles, products like sunglasses, and building materials.
BlockTexx works with large companies and government agencies, with commercial laundries, charities and manufacturers.
Mr Ross said being named The Australian Hero was a “tremendous recognition for the team” and for Queensland-grown innovations.
“We really are leading the world in textile and resource recovery industry,” he said.
“When you delve into what the award really means, it comes down to environmental and social impact, and they are our key drivers.”
Mr Ross said the recycling of paper, plastics and glass where now household industries, and textiles would soon follow suit.
“Logan is leading the way,” he said.
“Logan has one of the world’s leading active-wear brands, leading educational brands, and a number of small-to-medium businesses that do really cool things.
“We have a company that makes rockets and are working towards going into space, we have people that make bolts for nuclear reactors, and a whole range of manufacturing.
“We hear the federal government talking about manufacturing and sovereign capability – Logan really is the poster child of that concept.”
The company’s plant in Loganholme, which is the largest in the world with a 10,000-tonne capacity, processes 800-1000 tonnes of textile every two hours.
“In Queensland alone, there is about 80,000 tonnes going into landfill every year,” Mr Ross said.
“You have to build a commercial-scale plant to tackle that.”
After five years, Blocktexx now has 21 full-time employees.
Mr Ross is expecting many more.
“More than half of those have moved to the area, looking for a place to live, rather than travelling from Brisbane or the Gold Coast,” he said.
“And three of our senior team members have come from overseas to work for our company, and as we grow this business, we have more and more people wanting to come to this region.”
The dream for Blocktexx is to see it grow, Mr Ross said, with its social and environmental impact spreading further.
https://mycitylogan.com.au/australias-best-innovators-based-in-logan/
