Epoch Biodesign, a London-based startup utilizing enzymes to create recycled plastics that are both cheaper and more efficient than virgin materials, has announced today that it has secured €17 million in Series A funding during an oversubscribed round.
The financing was led by Extantia Capital, with contributions from Inditex, Lowercarbon Capital, Happiness Capital, Kibo Invest, Day One Ventures, and others, along with a €929k grant from the UK government.
The funds will be allocated for constructing their first facility, expanding their collection of plastic-eating enzymes, and beginning to serve textile customers across the fashion, automotive, and chemicals sectors. The company aims to process tens of thousands of tonnes of waste by 2028.
“We’re proving that plastic waste isn’t just a problem to solve – it’s a valuable resource waiting to be unlocked,” stated Jacob Nathan, Founder and CEO of Epoch Biodesign. “Using the molecular precision of enzymes at an industrial scale, we’re building the solution set to make all plastics recyclable and doing so at a competitive price. This is what real circularity looks like.”
Established in 2019, Epoch Biodesign merges AI, robotic automation, and advanced synthetic biology to engineer enzymes capable of efficiently converting waste plastics into valuable chemicals. As the world grapples with plastic pollution, Epoch is laying the groundwork for a waste-free future.
The company’s mission was inspired by Nathan’s high school science project, which investigated how microbes could decompose plastic waste. Under his direction, the company has expanded to a team of 30 scientists and engineers in London, raising a total of €31.5 million in funding to date.
Epoch’s enzymes can decompose resilient plastics in a manner akin to how leaves break down in soil. By utilizing AI and automated screening technology, they have developed enzymes that convert mixed waste into valuable chemical products at room temperature.
Additionally, Inditex and Epoch are collaborating through a multi-year joint development agreement to ensure that the technology meets Inditex’s stringent performance standards.
“Epoch’s innovative and promising technology has impressive potential to revolutionise blended textile recycling,” noted Óscar García Maceiras, CEO of Inditex. “This investment strengthens our commitment to advancing an innovative, circular model and driving the industry’s transition toward low-impact materials.”
Epoch emphasizes that traditional mechanical recycling faces challenges with mixed plastics, degrading the quality of the polymer with each recycling cycle. In contrast, chemical recycling often requires high temperatures, sometimes exceeding 500°C, making it energy-intensive and costly. Consequently, most recycled plastics are relegated to lower-value products that end up in landfills within a few years.
With plastic production projected to triple in the next 35 years, this issue is escalating. Epoch’s biorecycling technology captures the material’s value, producing high-quality chemicals at price parity with fossil carbon-derived alternatives. For apparel brands, Epoch’s technology offers a viable solution for transitioning to recycled materials, enabling companies to comply with strict recycling regulations while reducing raw material expenses.
“Plastic has a bad reputation, but the problem isn’t the material — it’s how we use and dispose of it. When designed, sourced, and recycled responsibly, plastic can be one of the most efficient and sustainable materials we have. And that’s what Epoch is doing,” expressed Yair Reem, Partner at Extantia. “They aren’t just developing better recycling – they’re transforming the entire value chain to ensure it works for the planet, not against it.”
