Epoch Biodesign raises €10.3M to transform waste with enzymes
London-based biotech startup Epoch Biodesign has secured a €10.3 million ($12 million) funding round to accelerate the development and deployment of its proprietary enzymatic recycling technology. The company aims to convert hard-to-recycle plastics and complex waste streams into valuable chemical building blocks, supporting a more circular and low-carbon economy.
A new approach to plastic and waste recycling
Epoch Biodesign engineers high-performance enzymes capable of breaking down mixed and contaminated materials that traditional mechanical recycling and conventional chemical recycling often struggle to process. By redesigning enzymes at the molecular level, the startup seeks to unlock new pathways for converting waste into reusable inputs for the chemicals, packaging and consumer goods industries.
The company’s platform combines synthetic biology, machine learning and high-throughput experimentation to identify and optimize enzymes that can operate efficiently at industrial scale. The goal is to offer partners a cost-competitive alternative to fossil-based feedstocks while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and landfill dependence.
Funding to scale technology and partnerships
The €10.3 million round will enable Epoch Biodesign to expand its research team, scale pilot facilities and advance commercial partnerships with major brands and waste management companies. The fresh capital is expected to support demonstration projects that validate the technology on real-world waste streams, from post-consumer plastics to complex industrial by-products.
By focusing on enzymatic processes that operate under relatively mild conditions, the startup aims to cut both the energy intensity and the carbon footprint of recycling. This positions the company at the intersection of climate tech, biotechnology and circular economy solutions, a space attracting increasing interest from institutional investors and corporate partners.
Strategic impact on the circular economy
As regulators tighten rules on plastic waste and extended producer responsibility, demand is rising for scalable, science-driven recycling solutions. Epoch Biodesign plans to license its enzyme technology and collaborate across the value chain, from material manufacturers to brands and recyclers, to help decouple growth from virgin fossil resources.
If successfully scaled, the company’s enzymatic recycling platform could play a pivotal role in reshaping how industries source raw materials, offering a route to turn problematic waste into a strategic asset.