A U.K.-based biotech startup, Epoch Biodesign, has secured $18.3 million in Series A funding to scale up its AI-accelerated plastic-eating enzymes. Originally founded by Jacob Nathan as a high school science project, the company is developing biorecycling solutions to break down synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon.
Key Highlights
First production facility launching in 2025: Will process 150 tons of plastic waste annually.
Commercial-scale production targeted by 2028: Aims to accelerate scaling to increase output.
AI-driven enzyme discovery: Uses generative AI to design and optimize plastic-digesting enzymes 25x faster than natural evolution.
High efficiency & lower costs:
90%+ material recovery rate.
No high temperatures required, making it cheaper and more energy-efficient than traditional recycling.
Strategic investment from Inditex (Zara’s parent company): Multi-year partnership to integrate recycled materials into fashion supply chains.
Total funding to date: $34M, including a $1M U.K. government grant.
Epoch’s AI-powered biorecycling aims to make recycling plastic fabrics cheaper than producing new synthetic materials, reducing fashion’s environmental footprint and tackling global plastic waste.