Lululemon Invests In Biotech Startup To Accelerate “Nylon Alternative” Solutions

London-based biotech startup Epoch Biodesign announced the completion of a new $12 million funding round, aimed at accelerating the commercialization of its regenerative nylon technology.

This round of financing includes Canadian athletic apparel brand lululemon, as well as institutional investors KOMPAS VC, Happiness Capital, Extantia, and Leitmotif. Following this round, Epoch Biodesign’s total funding has exceeded $50 million.

Epoch Biodesign was founded in 2019 by Jacob Nathan. The company integrates artificial intelligence, biochemistry, materials science, and process engineering to develop enzymes capable of degrading PET, nylon, polyester, and other materials at low temperatures. This process consumes less energy and eliminates the need for toxic chemicals used in conventional recycling methods; its output can be directly used to manufacture new products, replacing virgin materials. The company’s goal is to make recycled plastic more cost-competitive than virgin plastic.

According to Epoch, its enzymatic process can recycle various types of waste nylon 66 (including clothing, industrial waste, and automotive materials) into virgin-grade monomers, with carbon emissions reduced by up to 80% compared to traditional production methods. This process can operate at room temperature, does not produce harmful by-products, and can handle mixed and composite materials, including textiles and plastics that are typically difficult to recycle and often end up in landfills or incinerators.

Epoch stated that it has already established over 40 partnerships in fields such as high-performance apparel, premium fashion, automotive, and industrial textiles. Among these, the current round’s investor, lululemon, is advancing alternative nylon solutions and plans to achieve 100% use of renewable or recycled nylon materials in its products.

Jacob Nathan said: "We are pleased to announce the completion of this strategic round, with both existing investors and new partners. In the apparel industry, we are honored to receive support from the sports brand lululemon, known for its innovation and quality; we also welcome Leitmotif, a deep technology investment institution closely connected with the automotive industry, to join. Nylon 66 is a key material in the apparel and automotive industries, but scalable recycling solutions have long been difficult to achieve."