London-based Epoch BioDesign has raised £14.2m in a Series A funding round to accelerate its mission to make recycled plastics cheaper and superior to alternatives.
The investment will also be used to help the firm create its first industrial-scale plant and refine its array of plastic-eating enzymes.
Epoch designs supercharged enzymes that are able to break down plastics in a process similar to how leaves decompose in soil.
The company has created enzymes using AI that transform mixed waste into valuable chemical products at room temperature.
“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 funding round was led by Extantia Capital and also saw a £780,000 grant from the UK government. Other participating investors include Inditex, Lowercarbon Capital, Happiness Capital, Kibo Invest and Day One Ventures.
Yair Reem, partner at Extantia Capital, added: “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.”