Epoch Biodesign reported it raised $12 million in a new funding round to commercialize AI-engineered nylon 6,6 recycling with Lululemon among investors. This new funding brings the total capital raised to over $50 million, timed with Epoch’s scaling up production from its pilot facility to a larger demonstration site to “validate commercial-scale production.”
Participants in the round also included Kompas VC, Happiness Capital, Extantia, and Leitmotif, among others.
Epoch noted in a media release that the company is “helping circularity by developing a nylon 6,6 material that does not require virgin feedstock,” and that the company does not “waste garments and other nylon materials, which will be transformed back into their original chemical building blocks – monomers, specifically adipic acid and HMDA.” From these raw materials, “new, virgin-quality polymer and yarn can be produced,” the company continued.
London-based Epoch said the funds will be used to “accelerate global commercialization and deepen partnerships across apparel, automotive and additional end markets where nylon 6,6 is widely used.”
The raise reportedly follows a recent understanding between Epoch and Invista, the largest nylon 6,6 producers, and comes as Epoch nears completion of what it describes as its “second—and largest to date—nylon 6,6 biorecycling facility.”
Jacob Nathan, founder and CEO of Epoch, 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 to the automotive industry, which is a key sector for Epoch. Nylon 6,6 is a key material for both the 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.”
Image courtesy Epoch Biodesign
