Epoch Biodesign Ldt.. (3/5/25). "Press Release: Epoch Biodesign Raises $18.3M to Turn the Plastic Crisis Into a Circular Revolution". London.

	Organisation	Epoch Biodesign Ltd.
	Organisation 2	Extantia Capital Management GmbH
	Product	plastic recycling technology
	Product 2	venture capital
	Index term	Epoch Biodesign–SEVERAL: investment, 202503 financing round Series A $17.3m led by Extantia Capital
	Index term 2	Epoch Biodesign–Extantia Capital: investment, 202503 financing round Series A totalling $17.3m incl lead investor Extantia Capital
	Person	Nathan, Jacob (Epoch Biodesign 202206 CEO + Co-Founder)
	Person 2	Reem, Yair (Extantia Capital 202503 Partner)

Epoch Biodesign, a company using enzymes to make recycled plastics cheaper and higher performing than virgin materials, today announced it has raised $18.3M in Series A capital in an oversubscribed round. The financing round was led by Extantia Capital, with participation from Inditex, Lowercarbon Capital, Happiness Capital, Kibo Invest, Day One Ventures, KOMPAS VC and others, alongside a $1M grant from the UK government. The funding will be used to build their first plant, expand their library of plastic-eating enzymes and begin serving some of the largest textile customers in the world from the fashion, automotive, and chemicals industries. The company aims to process tens of thousands of tonnes of waste by 2028.

Epoch designs supercharged enzymes that can break down even the toughest plastics in a process similar to how leaves decompose in soil. Using AI and automated screening technology, they've created enzymes that transform mixed waste into valuable chemical products at room temperature. With over 40 partnerships across performance apparel, automotive, luxury fashion, and technical textiles, the company is demonstrating true textile-to-textile circularity at scale.

In addition, Inditex and Epoch are working together through a multi-year joint development agreement in order to ensure the technology’s ability to meet their rigorous performance standards.

“Epoch's innovative and promising technology has impressive potential to revolutionize 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.”

Traditional mechanical recycling struggles with mixed plastics, and lowers the quality of the polymer with each cycle. Chemical recycling requires high temperatures, in some cases above 500°C, making it energy-intensive and expensive. As a result, most recycled plastics end up as lower-value products destined for landfills within years. With plastic production set to as much as triple in the next 35 years, this challenge is only growing. Epoch's biorecycling technology fully recovers the material's value, creating high-quality chemicals at price parity with fossil carbon-derived alternatives. For apparel brands, Epoch’s technology is the ultimate solution for switching to recycled materials, helping companies meet strict recycling mandates whilst lowering raw material costs.

"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."

The timing couldn't be more critical. California just passed landmark legislation requiring apparel companies to handle end-of-life recycling. Similar laws are gaining traction across the U.S. and are no longer limited to the regulatory outlier of Europe. It’s time for a fresh approach to recycling.

“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.”

About Epoch Biodesign

Epoch Biodesign supercharges billions of years of evolution to address humanity's waste crisis. The company combines AI, robotic automation, and advanced synthetic biology to engineer enzymes that efficiently transform waste plastics into valuable chemicals. While the world drowns in plastic, Epoch is building the foundation of a waste-free future. The company was founded in 2019 by Jacob Nathan, sparked by Nathan's high school science project exploring how microbes could break down plastic waste. Under his leadership, the company has grown to a team of 30 scientists and engineers in London. So far, Epoch has raised $34M from leading investors, including Extantia Capital, Inditex (through a fund managed by Mundi Ventures), Lowercarbon Capital, BoxGroup, Day One Ventures and others. For more information about Epoch Biodesign, visit epochbiodesign.com.

About Extantia Capital

Extantia is a venture capital firm backing pioneers in climate. As a leading climate tech generalist, the firm’s investment strategies — Extantia Flagship and Extantia Allstars — are dedicated to supporting climate-focused companies and venture funds. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Berlin, the firm manages approximately €300M in AuM. Extantia Flagship directly invests in software and hardware solutions that address large, near-term market opportunities with the power to redefine industries. It focuses on Seed to Series A rounds across Europe, with initial tickets ranging from €1-5 million. For more information about Extantia and its investment approach, visit extantia.com.

Press contact

Fernanda Bartels, Extantia Capital
[email protected]

Record changed: 2025-03-08