Epoch Biodesign secures £9m to commercialise enzymatic recycling for Nylon 6,6 production
This article covers Epoch Biodesign, a greentech startup, which has raised £9m in a growth funding round to accelerate commercialisation of recycled Nylon 6,6 and scale production from pilot to a larger demonstration facility. The funding aims to help the startup move from multi-tonne output toward multi-kilotonne supply for apparel and automotive customers and to validate commercial-scale recycled Nylon 6,6 production.
Epoch Biodesign, a greentech startup developing enzymatic recycling for nylon, has raised £9 million in a growth funding round to accelerate commercialisation of recycled Nylon 6,6 and scale production from pilot to a larger demonstration facility. The investment brings together corporate and venture backers and aims to move the company from multi-tonne output toward multi-kilotonne supply for apparel and automotive customers.
Why it matters
Nylon 6,6 is widely used in athletic wear, performance textiles and many automotive components, yet recycling routes that return it to virgin-quality feedstock have been limited. Epoch’s process targets that gap by recovering core chemical building blocks rather than downcycling fibres, which could reduce demand for new petrochemical feedstock and cut landfill and incineration of mixed or coated materials.
The deal also signals continued corporate interest in circular materials. The participation of an apparel brand alongside venture firms underscores how product makers are increasingly backing startups that can supply recycled polymers at scale. The announcement reflects growing interest from greentech investors in circular polymer solutions.
Inside the product
Epoch’s technology uses enzymes to break waste nylon materials back into their original monomers, including adipic acid and hexamethylene diamine (HMDA). Those chemicals can then be re-polymerised into Nylon 6,6 at quality levels suitable for new polymer and yarn production. The company says the process can handle items that are difficult to recycle mechanically, such as blended textiles, multi-layer laminates, coated fibres and mixed automotive plastics.
The £9 million will be used to accelerate global commercialisation and scale production. Epoch is completing its second and largest Nylon 6,6 biorecycling facility and aims to validate commercial-scale output at a demonstration site, moving from multi-tonne to multi-kilotonne capacity.
Who are the investors?
The round includes a mix of strategic and venture capital backers. Lead participants named in the announcement are lululemon, KOMPAS VC, Happiness Capital, Extantia and Leitmotif.
lululemon joins as a strategic industry investor from the apparel sector, indicating a potential commercial route into performance clothing supply chains. Leitmotif is described in the announcement as a deep tech investor with strong ties to the automotive sector, a key target market for recycled Nylon 6,6. KOMPAS VC, Happiness Capital and Extantia provide venture capital support to help scale the technology and production footprint.
Epoch has also signed a memorandum of understanding with INVISTA, a major nylon producer, which could help with downstream validation or offtake as the company moves toward larger-scale production.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Jacob Nathan, Founder & CEO at Epoch Biodesign, said:
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.
The bigger picture
Chemical and enzymatic recycling are emerging as complementary approaches to mechanical recycling, especially for mixed-material and coated textiles that cannot be reclaimed intact. If Epoch and competitors can demonstrate reliable, cost-competitive recycled monomers at scale, it would help brands and manufacturers meet rising expectations for recycled content and reduce reliance on virgin petrochemicals.
This funding round sits alongside broader moves by corporates and VCs to secure circular supply chains across Europe and beyond. As policy and buyer pressures on textile and automotive waste grow, investments in companies that can close material loops are likely to increase.
The raise adds to momentum among European greentech startups developing circular polymer solutions and will be watched for signs that enzymatic recycling can scale from demonstration volumes to mainstream industrial supply.
They've invested in Epoch Biodesign
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