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Our Story, Our Why?

In 2011, New Zealand experienced their worst environmental maritime disaster when the Rena, a container ship, spilled tonnes of fuel into the Bay of Plenty. The founder kept track of the impact the spill had on the environment, the people affected, their dogs, the marine life and birds, and the time taken using irresponsible methods to “mop up the mess”.  He decided to find a quicker, more environmentally sustainable solution to clean up oil spills, so governments could be prepared. 

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We looked into numerous different types of materials that soak up oil and supported by ANSTO’s world-leading materials analysis capability, we tested and trialled hundreds of different combinations. We invented Sucoil (‘Suck Oil’),  a unique granular sponge material that rapidly absorbs oil from land or water, without absorbing water, never sinks and gets lost and, importantly, beats any other existing material because it can be reused many times with little loss of function.

These images represent the granular cell technology of the core of the sponge.

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Our vision

is to clean our earth and its oceans more efficiently and sustainably than ever before, thus leaving the planet healthier than we inherited it.

Sustainable Oil Recovery & Remediation

Company Timeline:

2019:
SOR IS CREATED
 

Sustainable Oil Recovery was formed under the direction of Founder Captain Marc Kuhl in collaboration with the inventor. 
 

2020:

SUCOIL SPONGE IS BORN

 

The sponge was rebranded
under the SOR 
brand's umbrella and trademarked as the Sucoil® Sponge.

2020-21:

PATENT

 

Provisional Patent: 2020901778 application filed for Australia. An international patent was filed 12 months later.

2021:

CLIMATELAUNCHPAD
FINALISTS

 

SOR was an Australian national finalist of ClimateLaunchpad
which is the world's largest
green business ideas competition.

2022:

XTREME TECH
WORLD FINALIST

 

SOR is a Global Finalist of XTC 2022. Xtreme Tech Challenge is a non-profit
organization behind the world's biggest startup competition in the world.

2022 - 23:

TUGGERAH LAKES
STORMWATER TRIAL

 

SOR’s Stormwater Solution was awarded a Federal Government funded Grant to be implemented at Tuggerah Lakes, NSW in a three month trial with Central Coast Council. Upon successful trial solution rolled out to multiple CCC Sites.

2023:

SORR CREATED, AMAZON WEB SERVICES 
& ARQ PARTNERSHIPS

 

Sustainable Oil Recovery 
& Remediatio
n is created, our Stormwater Solution entered into a joint venture partnership to develop sophisticated data capture and analysis on Stormwater Solution.

2024:

SORR & CSIRO

 

SORR was selected to be a part of the RISE Accelerator Program, a partnership between CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, the Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.

Awards

SORR is a Global Finalist of XTC 2022. Xtreme Tech Challenge is a non-profit organization behind the world’s biggest startup competition that aims to help startups change the world for the better. In our quest, we are supported by leading corporations, VCs, foundations, policymakers, universities and tech conferences.

 

SORR was an Australian national finalist of ClimateLaunchpad which is the world’s largest green business ideas competition.

 

Working with

Birkenhead Point Marina, Sydney Harbour
Central Coast Council,
NSW

Cockatoo Island Marine, Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour 

Collaborating with 

CSIRO
ARQ GROUP 
AWS (Amazon Web Services)
Newcastle University

Memberships

SORR is a member of the Climate Salad

SORR is a member of the Queensland AI Hub.

SOR is a member of the Marina Industries Association.

Currently Sponsoring 

SORR is currently a sponsor of Ocean in Motions.

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