Epoch purchased the factory, formerly operated by Domo Chemicals before its Spanish business entered insolvency, for €4m, making it the first enzymatic recycler to own commercial-scale production.
The facility offers production capacity of 52,000t per year, providing the scale to expand Epoch’s offering of both traditional and recycled nylon 6,6.
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Epoch says it can offer brands a route to closed-loop recycled nylon, ahead of EU rules on recycled-content tightening in 2030.
The acquisition brings 60 jobs under Epoch’s stewardship and builds on the site’s more than 50-year history supplying materials for customers in the apparel, automotive, and industrial sectors.
Earlier this year Epoch secured $12m in new investment from lululemon, KOMPAS VC, Extantia and others, to accelerate the commercialisation of its recycled nylon 6,6 technology.
“This acquisition is a key step on our journey to deliver something that the market simply hasn’t been able to offer: a secure supply of genuinely circular material, at scale,” says Jacob Nathan, founder and CEO at Epoch.
“We’re proud to build on the storied legacy of the Blanes site to deliver a new era for the European materials industry and safeguard 60 jobs in the process.”
Epoch uses AI to design enzymes that break down plastic waste into its original chemical components, or monomers, which can be reconstituted into virgin-quality polymer.
The company said its process produces recycled nylon 6,6 that is indistinguishable from fossil-fuel-derived materials and can be recycled multiple times without quality loss.
However, the company noted that less than 1% is currently recycled at the end of its life, leaving industry and regulators facing a substantial supply shortfall.
Epoch said that major brands and manufacturers are setting 2030 targets for recycled material integration, driving demand for reliable sources of recycled nylon 6,6.
Epoch Biodesign chief commercial officer Luciano Caruso added: “Owning commercial-scale polymerisation means we can now offer customers something the market has been waiting for: a genuine timeline to secure closed-loop supply of recycled nylon 6,6. This acquisition enables us to partner with brands and manufacturers at a deeper level.
“Starting today, we will work together to validate Epoch polymer in their supply chains and products so that we can seamlessly integrate recycled content over the coming years. In an industry facing tightening regulation and real material shortages, Epoch Biodesign is proud of this deal and what it represents.”
