Epoch Biodesign Secures €17 Million to Transform Plastic Waste into a Circular Economy Breakthrough

Image Credit: Epoch Biodesign

Epoch Biodesign, a pioneering London-based startup, is taking a bold step toward transforming plastic waste into high-performance recycled materials. Today, the company announced it has secured €17 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round—an injection of capital that will accelerate its mission to make recycled plastics cheaper and superior to virgin alternatives.

Led by Extantia Capital, the funding round attracted an impressive roster of investors, including Inditex, Lowercarbon Capital, Happiness Capital, Kibo Invest, and Day One Ventures. Additionally, the UK government contributed a €929k grant, further validating Epoch’s breakthrough approach to biorecycling.

With this funding, Epoch will construct its first industrial-scale plant, refine its library of plastic-eating enzymes, and begin working with customers in the fashion, automotive, and chemical industries. The company has set an ambitious goal: processing tens of thousands of tonnes of plastic 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,” said 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.”

Founded in 2019, Epoch Biodesign fuses artificial intelligence, robotic automation, and synthetic biology to engineer powerful enzymes that break down plastics into valuable chemical compounds. The inspiration for this groundbreaking work traces back to founder Nathan’s high school science project, where he first explored how microbes could digest plastic waste. Fast forward to today, and Epoch has assembled a team of 30 top-tier scientists and engineers in London, pushing the boundaries of sustainable innovation.

“Epoch’s innovative and promising technology has impressive potential to revolutionise blended textile recycling,” said 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’s proprietary enzymes mimic nature’s decomposition process, breaking down even the most stubborn plastics at room temperature—eliminating the need for extreme heat or energy-intensive processes. This technology stands in stark contrast to conventional recycling methods:

• Mechanical Recycling: Struggles with mixed plastics and progressively degrades material quality each cycle.

• Chemical Recycling: Requires temperatures exceeding 500°C, making it costly and environmentally taxing.

• Epoch’s Biorecycling: Efficiently transforms waste into high-quality chemicals at a fraction of the energy cost.

Epoch’s partnership with Inditex is a testament to its technology's scalability and industrial potential. The two companies have embarked on a multi-year joint development agreement to ensure the process meets rigorous performance standards, paving the way for widespread adoption across the textile industry.

With plastic production projected to triple over the next 35 years, the world is facing an escalating waste crisis. Epoch’s cutting-edge approach not only diverts plastic from landfills but also recaptures its value—delivering high-performance chemicals at price parity with fossil-fuel-derived alternatives.

For apparel brands and other industries under pressure to meet stringent recycling mandates, Epoch offers a game-changing solution: a path to sustainable materials without compromising on quality or cost.

As Epoch Biodesign scales its operations, one thing is clear—the future of plastic recycling is no longer just about reducing waste. It’s about reimagining waste as an asset, turning yesterday’s pollution into tomorrow’s raw materials.

“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,” said 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.”