Epoch Biodesign raises $12 million to recycle nylon 6,6

Epoch Biodesign has raised $12 million in a funding round to scale its enzyme-based recycling technology, which aims to transform plastic waste into usable monomers. The investment round included backing from apparel giant Lululemon, alongside participation from investment firms Extantia, Happiness Capital, Kompas VC, and Leitmotif. The capital will help fund a demonstration-scale facility located near Imperial College London, as the company seeks to scale its operations. This facility represents a key step in proving the technology’s viability before moving to full commercial production.

The company’s technology focuses on recycling nylon 6,6, a high-strength synthetic fiber used in clothing and industrial applications. Originally developed by DuPont, nylon 6,6 remains widely used because of its performance, making it difficult to replace in many applications. Epoch Biodesign uses a cascade of enzymes to break down pre- and post-consumer plastic waste into monomers, which are the basic building blocks from which plastic is made. By using only the enzymes rather than the microbes that produce them, the company avoids biological volatility. Through this process, Epoch can recover more than 90% of the desired monomers. “For us, a bale of textile is the equivalent of a barrel of oil,” said Jacob Nathan, the founder and CEO of Epoch Biodesign. The only other materials left over from the process are dyes, which are captured and can be dealt with separately.

By using waste textiles as feedstock instead of petroleum, the company aims to decouple material production from fossil fuel extraction and price volatility. According to Nathan, the price of precursors for nylon 6,6 has jumped by as much as 150% on a spot price basis. Detaching material production from the extraction, refinement, and volatility of fossil carbon is intended to create much more consistency in supply. To scale production, Epoch plans to bring a commercial-scale facility online in 2028. This future facility should be capable of producing 20,000 metric tons per year of monomer, allowing the company to establish a consistent supply of recycled materials.

Why it matters

Epoch Biodesign is attempting to decouple the production of synthetic materials from the price volatility and environmental impact of fossil fuel extraction, offering a potential path toward a circular economy for high-strength plastics.