Nylon recycling startup acquires production facility in Spain

LONDON-BASED biorecycling firm Epoch BioDesign has bought a “mothballed” polymerisation plant in Blanes, Spain, to take its technology to commercial scale.

The company’s technology uses AI to design enzymes that work at low temperatures to break down plastic and textile waste into monomers at a molecular level.

Previously used for nylon 6,6 production, the Blanes plant recycles such material to develop virgin-quality recycled polymer that can then be put back into the textile supply chain.

Around 92m t/y of textile waste is generated globally, according to data from the UN Environment programme, accounting for 11% of plastic waste.

Circular textiles

Epoch has been scaling-up its technology rapidly over the last few months, having opened a demonstration plant for processing post-consumer nylon in London back in April.

The company says it can retrieve nylon 6,6 from “any feedstock”, be that hard plastics or coated textiles.

The process uses generative AI techniques to analyse and model enzymes based on biological datasets so that they can target specific characteristics.

Blanes plant

With the Blanes plant, for which Epoch paid €4m (US$4.6m), the company says it will be able to offer commercial-scale recycled nylon products to its partners.

The firm has previously collaborated with textile companies in the past, including US activewear manufacturer Lululemon.

Luciano Caruso, CCO of Epoch, said: “Owning commercial-scale polymerisation means we can now offer customers something the market has been waiting for: a genuine timeline to secure closed-loop supply of recycled nylon 6,6.

“This acquisition enables us to partner with brands and manufacturers at a deeper level. Starting today, we will work together to validate Epoch polymer in their supply chains and products so that we can seamlessly integrate recycled content over the coming years.”