Epoch Biodesign has created a platform that integrates advanced biological processes to transform complex, blended plastics into sustainable materials. Unlike conventional recycling methods, the company’s proprietary process operates at low temperatures and atmospheric pressure, without toxic catalysts or solvents—what they term "biorecycling."
The platform sits at the intersection of AI, biology, and chemical engineering, yielding optimal processes to unlock materials traditionally considered non-recyclable. With these capabilities, Epoch Biodesign envisions a world without waste.
AI-designed enzymes are at the heart of their process, enabling energy-intensive reactions to occur at room temperature rather than hundreds of degrees. This results in high-yield, high-purity outputs and improved unit economics, significantly reducing the carbon footprint. Epoch Biodesign targets complex plastic and textile waste with transformative potential by combining advancements in enzyme technology, smart process design, and materials science.
Nylon is one of the materials addressed by Epoch Biodesign. Their process accepts various nylon blends, including waste from diverse industries that would otherwise go unrecycled. Using a proprietary separation method, they first recover nylon from other materials and contaminants, which are separated for further processing. Their enzymes then break down the nylon into its chemical building blocks, which are purified and repolymerized to produce nylon identical in quality to virgin materials.
Epoch Biodesign also applies its technology to recycle polyester. Their method handles complex fiber and packaging inputs, facilitating true circularity for polyester and PET. Both pre- and post-consumer waste is prepared for enzyme breakdown, which operates at low temperatures. The enzymes depolymerize the material, and the resulting monomers are purified and repolymerized to create polyester indistinguishable from virgin materials. This breakthrough in biorecycling offers scalability and a closed-loop solution for polyester waste.
