Construcciones Yamaro: Transmutation takes on the big recycling challenges
From a humble shed in South Australia to the frontlines of construction waste innovation, Transmutation is proving that even the hardest-to-recycle materials can find a second life.
Construction remains one of the world’s biggest waste-producing industries, but Australia’s approach is shifting. Companies like Transmutation are proving that discarded materials hold untapped value, driving new solutions for a more sustainable future.
In 2022–23, Australia generated an estimated 26.8 million tonnes of building and demolition waste, according to the National Waste and Resource Recovery Report 2024. Tackling this challenge takes bold ideas and unconventional thinking – qualities that define Transmutation and its founder, Brad Scott.
A journey of reinvention
Scott spent three decades in heavy logistics across waterfront, road and rail transport before shifting to consultancy, where he turned around struggling projects under immense pressure. But the relentless cycle of high-stakes decision-making took its toll. Then, the unexpected happened.
“With our kids grown up, my wife proposed selling our house in Brisbane, storing nothing and travelling Australia with no fixed plan. It caught me off guard, but I embraced it,” says Scott.
The couple hit the road, picking up temporary jobs along the way. They managed motels in Victoria, ran an outback pub in Queensland, and worked in hotels in South Australia. Scott enjoyed the nomadic life, but after 18 months, his wife was ready to settle.
“She made me a deal: we would find a place we both liked, she would take a full-time job, and we would buy an empty shed where I could figure out my next step,” he says.
It was in that shed in Robe, South Australia, where the foundation was laid for what Transmutation has become today – a business challenging the status quo in recycling and manufacturing.
A business with purpose
When Scott told his wife he wanted to turn the shed into a business, they considered how best to use his skills. He had a chemistry degree – one he had never fully utilised – but now saw an opportunity to bring it into play.
“Recycling and environmental issues have always been important to me,” says Scott. “Why would you trash the planet if you can do something about it?”
That mindset led him to plastic recycling. While researching, he discovered the Precious Plastic movement – an initiative that provided open-source plans for small-scale recycling machines. The idea struck a chord. Scott saw not just a business opportunity, but a way to educate and inspire.
“Recycling is notoriously difficult to make profitable, so we structured the business carefully,” he says. “We set up a small shop selling wholesale and retail homewares, featuring work from other makers, while also doing some manufacturing ourselves. The manufacturing side was more about education – showing people how easy it can be to recycle in a small space.”
It started as a modest venture, but within a year, demand outpaced expectations.
Scaling up
Transmutation quickly gained traction, but its breakthrough came when the Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs charity approached Scott. They had been collecting bread tags nationwide but had no way to recycle them in Australia. Scott devised a solution, shifting the recycling process from South Africa – where the charity was originally established – to a local facility.
Then came an unexpected call from Country Road Australia. Sceptical at first, Scott hung up, assuming it was a prank. The clothing retailer called back. That partnership propelled Transmutation into the national spotlight, proving that high-quality, recycled homewares could command commercial interest.
Another chance encounter led to an even bigger leap. An executive from architectural paint brand Dulux, visiting Robe, walked into Transmutation’s store and mentioned a persistent industry problem – powder coating waste, an ultra-fine thermoset plastic that had long been considered unrecyclable.
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Cracking the construction waste code
Thermoset plastics do not melt; they burn, making traditional recycling impossible. On top of that, powder coating waste is so fine that it clogs conventional recycling systems.
“No one had found a solution,” says Scott. “But I did – in the back shed.”
After two years of development, Transmutation pioneered PostPrime Plastic, a new thermoplastic blend that repurposes powder coating waste, agricultural waste and other recycled materials. It functions like polypropylene but is uniquely its own.
“Today, Transmutation manufactures bar chairs for the construction industry using PostPrime Plastic, with several new products in the pipeline,” says Scott.
“In 2025, we have four major projects across different sectors. One of them, which we call ‘Tier One,’ involves supplying recycled products specifically for Tier 1 construction companies. We have one product on the market, with four or five expected by year’s end.”
The company has also secured a supply deal for the Western Sydney International Airport project and is experimenting with incorporating e-waste and soft plastics into a masonry-like building material.
“Our growth is exciting, and more companies see us as problem-solvers, turning hard-to-recycle wastes into viable products,” says Scott.
Circular solutions
Transmutation’s products offer four key sustainability advantages. They incorporate recycled plastic, helping contractors meet government and private sector targets for recycled content. They are backed by an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), providing crucial carbon and lifecycle data for Scope 1, 2, and 3 reporting. They support sovereign manufacturing by being locally sourced and made in Australia.
“And we integrate social responsibility into our operations through corporate governance and charitable partnerships,” says Scott. “Our ESG strategy covers environmental impact, governance through product traceability via QR codes, and social contributions, ensuring transparency and accountability.”
Unlike most small businesses, Transmutation has pursued international certifications, including ISO, GECA and United Nations Global Compact membership, positioning itself alongside major corporations in the circular economy.
The company aims to disrupt the typical client-supplier relationship in favour of a more collaborative approach.
“Ultimately, we want to be at the forefront of ESG and the circular economy. We see ourselves as experts in this space, even as a small business. Some might call it ambitious, but we see ourselves as part of the big picture in the circular economy.”
Recognition has followed. In 2024, Transmutation won the National Embracing Innovation Award at the Telstra Best of Business Awards – further proof that its approach is breaking barriers.
“That reinforced that we are on the right track – our position, timing and direction in the market,” says Scott.
“There are often assumptions and prejudices that come with being a small business based in regional South Australia. If you’re a Tier 1 builder, you’re probably not thinking of sourcing first-class building materials from Robe.
“This kind of recognition helps break through those barriers. It reinforces that while we are a small factory in regional South Australia, we’re also a provider of first-class building materials at scale.”
Breaking boundaries
As green building standards tighten and industries demand smarter sustainability solutions, Transmutation is ready to lead.
“Construction is ahead of the curve when it comes to ESG,” says Scott. “That is why we are focused on it – because it is where real change is happening. But other industries will follow, and we will be ready.”
For a sector long plagued by ‘impossible-to-recycle’ waste streams, Transmutation represents a new frontier. With ingenuity and problem-solving at its core, the company is proving that even the most challenging construction wastes can be repurposed.
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