21 July 2025
By James Mullan
Could algae help improve the environment by filtering waste water and enriching soil? Albon, co-founders John Phipps and Tom Bessell are trying to make this a reality. Their environmental technology start-up was recently selected for the intensive 2025 Taronga Hatch Accelerator Program, supported by LG, and could be poised to make a significant impact on Australia’s environmental landscape.
Albon has developed a groundbreaking approach harnessing biotechnology, specifically algae, to capture carbon dioxide and clean wastewater. This process ingeniously converts the pollutants into a stable carbon form, ideal for soil enrichment that can be used for a more efficient solution to carbon capture.
John Phipps, CEO and co-founder of Albon, who also runs the research and development and outreach, explained their focus on creating a truly circular economy, “The solution focuses on creating a truly circular economy where pollution becomes a powerful tool for regeneration.”
Phipps, originally from the US, developed his love for the environment during his childhood which included a lot of time on a small farm in New Hampshire. He moved to Australia to pursue studies in international relations and environmental studies.
A pivotal moment for Phipps came when he was studying finance at university, when he realised his passion for environmental work: “I did finance thinking I need to make money, and I just really, really did not enjoy that at all. And it took a little bit of digging to figure out I might as well be doing what I love and being outside is a big part of that. So preserving what we do have before it’s all gone became something I felt was really, really important.”
Tom Bessell, the other co-founder and Cremorne local, handles the business side of Albon, complementing Phipps’ scientific expertise. Their partnership began when Bessell was looking for participants for a startup competition.
The early days of the project were chaotic yet rewarding Phipps recalls “Oh man, it was all over the place. I was still a full-time student when we started this. So time between university working to pay for rent and doing the startup was a little bit up in the air and there was a lot of uncertainty in how we would go about it. But in that same way, uncertainty I think is good in a startup, especially if you’re looking to kick something off, you want to be hitting as many walls as possible because those are the learning experiences that you can take away from and develop something.”
The core of Albon’s technology is a “photo bioreactor,” a system designed to optimise algae’s ability to strip pollutants from water and capture carbon dioxide.
Phipps explained the concept: “Reactor is something that creates energy. Bio is organic, and photo is photosynthesis. So when you put the three together, you get a photo bioreactor.” The goal is to make this system as cost-effective and accessible as possible. He added “Algae is able to capture carbon dioxide 50 times more efficiently than trees.”
Albon is currently trialling their first pilot system at Wiley Park, a site known for severe algal blooms. This project evolved from a proof-of-concept in Phipps’ backyard to a community-focused initiative. The Wiley Park tests are set to begin in August and will run until April 2026, with plans to expand to abattoirs and other high-pollutant wastewater sites if successful.
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Beyond wastewater treatment, Albon is developing a second key component to their circular economy model, converting the grown algae into biochar for soil enrichment. This natural alternative to chemical fertilisers rehabilitates soil and captures carbon.
Phipps told the Sun “Not only is the biochar natural, but it has a very interesting structure. In our soil we’ve got these tiny little microbes that fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and turn it into nutrients that our plants need. When you put chemical fertilisers in the soil, it kills those natural bacteria with biochar. It’s got a very porous structure… So what you see is year after year, you actually increase the health of your soil and improve growth while storing carbon dioxide. It’s really incredible stuff.”
He believes there is a significant market for biochar, especially given the doubling of chemical fertiliser prices in the last five years and their environmental impact. Also noting the recent devastating algal blooms in Southern Australia caused by industrial and agricultural runoff as a clear indicator of the need for change.
With the support of the Taronga Zoo Hatch program, sponsored by LG, the duo have to grow and develop Albon. The program also helps entrepreneurs with mentors and experts who can help you bring their vision to life while also providing a $50,000 grant.