Epoch Biodesign’s $12 million funding round matters to auto recyclers because it supports the scale-up of enzymatic recycling for complex nylon 6,6 waste streams, including automotive plastics. The development could help unlock higher-value recovery routes for hard-to-recycle ELV materials and strengthen circular supply options for OEMs.
The Company Will Use Funds to Accelerate Commercialisation of Recycled Nylon.
Epoch Biodesign, a global leader in enzymatic recycling technology, today announced the closing of a financing round, which will accelerate the commercialisation of Epoch’s recycled nylon 6,6. The investment includes participation from lululemon, KOMPAS VC, Happiness Capital, Extantia, Leitmotif and others. This new funding brings total capital raised to over $50m and comes as Epoch scales production from their pilot facility to a new, much larger demonstration site that will validate commercial-scale production.
Epoch is helping to advance circularity by developing a nylon 6,6 material that does not require virgin feedstock. With Epoch’s process, waste garments and other nylon materials will be transformed back into their original chemical building blocks – monomers, specifically adipic acid and HMDA. From these raw materials, brand new, virgin-quality polymer and yarn can be produced.
The funds will be used to accelerate Epoch’s global commercialisation strategy and deepen partnerships in apparel, automotive and beyond. This announcement follows the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between Epoch and INVISTA, a world-leading nylon 6,6 producer, and comes as Epoch approaches completion of their second and largest nylon 6,6 biorecycling facility to date.
Jacob Nathan, Founder & CEO of Epoch Biodesign:
“We’re delighted to announce the closing of this strategic funding round, which includes investment from both existing investors and exciting new partners. From the apparel industry, we’re proud to receive fresh backing from lululemon, an athletic wear brand known for innovation and quality. We also welcome Leitmotif, a deep tech investor with strong ties into the automotive industry, which is a key sector for Epoch. Nylon 6,6 is a key material for both apparel and automotive industries, but a circular solution has yet to be successful at scale.“Support from partners such as these highlights Epoch’s momentum and will accelerate our plans to progress from multi-tonne production to multi-kilotonne scale. Very soon, recycled nylon 6,6 will be available to our partners in apparel, automotive and beyond.”
Epoch’s enzymatic recycling technology enables end-of-life and scrap materials, otherwise destined for landfill and incineration, to be infinitely recycled. Their advanced biotechnology means that even blended textiles, multi-layer laminates, coated fibres and mixed, compounded automotive plastics can be processed and recycled.
Importantly, the company works with a wide range of yarn producers to ensure that brands and OEMs have a true drop-in solution that improves the sustainability of their supply chain without the need to change suppliers.
Further Reading on Auto Recycling World
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Driving plastics full circle: EU roadmap for car recycling
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EU Council and Parliament agree new vehicle circularity and ELV rules
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The End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation is in its final approval phase: what next?
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The automotive recycling system and extended producer responsibility: why Europe needs all stakeholders at the table
