The former industrial site at Grapht Works in White City, West London, now hosts a construction crew fitting pipes and reactors. This is where Epoch Biodesign will build Europe’s first and the world’s largest demonstration plant for nylon 6,6 biorecycling. The facility marks the next stage for a company that raised €10.3 million last month to scale its enzymatic process beyond lab benches.
Epoch’s process uses enzymes to break down nylon 6,6 into its base molecules. These molecules are then purified and repolymerized into new polymer, closing the loop on a material that has long resisted mechanical recycling. The plant will initially process 1,000 tonnes per year, enough to validate the technology at industrial scale.
Imperial College London is a partner on the project. The college’s White City campus provides the site and access to academic expertise in polymer chemistry. Epoch’s CEO, Tom Ellis, said the plant will serve as a blueprint for future plants across Europe.
The funding round was led by Balderton Capital and included existing investors. The company plans to commission the plant in 2025 and begin commercial sales by 2026. Industry watchers see the project as a test case for whether enzymatic recycling can handle high-performance plastics at scale.
Source: eu-startups.com