Epoch Biodesign, a materials technology company, has secured $12 million in a strategic funding round with participation from Lululemon, KOMPAS VC, Happiness Capital, Extantia, Leitmotif, and other investors.
The raise brings the company’s total funding to over $50 million. Epoch focuses on advancing circular material systems by enabling the recycling of complex nylon waste into reusable raw materials.
What The Company Does
Epoch Biodesign develops enzymatic recycling technology that breaks down nylon 6,6 and other synthetic materials into their original chemical building blocks. Using AI-designed enzymes, the company can depolymerize waste textiles and plastics into compounds such as adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine, which can then be reused to produce new, virgin-quality polymers and yarn.
The platform is designed to handle complex waste streams that are typically difficult to recycle, including blended fabrics, coated fibers, and mixed plastic materials. By operating at lower temperatures compared to traditional chemical recycling methods, the process also aims to reduce energy consumption and improve overall efficiency.
Epoch’s approach enables manufacturers to reintroduce recycled inputs into existing production systems without requiring significant changes to infrastructure or supplier networks.
Advertisement
Market Context / Industry Background
The textile and plastics industries are under increasing pressure to reduce environmental impact and transition toward circular production models. Nylon, particularly nylon 6,6, is widely used in apparel, automotive, and industrial applications but remains challenging to recycle due to its chemical structure and frequent use in blended materials.
Conventional recycling methods often result in downcycled outputs or require high energy inputs, limiting scalability and economic viability. As a result, there is growing interest in technologies that can recover high-quality raw materials from waste while maintaining performance standards.
Brands and manufacturers are also facing regulatory and consumer-driven demands to improve supply chain sustainability, creating demand for solutions that can integrate into existing production processes without significant disruption.
Founder / Investor Commentary
Epoch positions its technology as a practical pathway toward material circularity, enabling industries to reuse existing resources rather than relying on virgin feedstocks. By focusing on compatibility with current manufacturing systems, the company aims to lower barriers to adoption across sectors.
The participation of strategic and sustainability-focused investors reflects broader industry interest in scalable recycling technologies that can address complex waste streams and support long-term decarbonization goals.
Growth Plans / Use Of Funds
The newly raised capital will be used to support global commercialization efforts and expand partnerships across industries, including apparel and automotive. Epoch plans to scale its technology deployment and deepen collaborations with yarn producers and manufacturers to integrate recycled materials into supply chains.
The company is expected to focus on increasing processing capacity and advancing its enzyme-based platform to handle a wider range of materials at industrial scale.
About Epoch Biodesign
Epoch Biodesign is a materials technology company focused on enzymatic recycling. Founded in the United Kingdom. Headquartered in London. The company uses AI-designed enzymes to break down complex plastics and textiles into reusable raw materials, supporting circular production across industries such as apparel, automotive, and packaging.
