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Epoch Biodesign has appointed Jamie Scott as Chief Operating Officer as the British biotech expands manufacturing and prepares for commercial-scale nylon 6,6 recycling.
Scott brings more than 30 years of experience in chemical manufacturing, industrial operations and technology commercialisation. He previously led INVISTA's European nylon intermediates business and has also held roles at Koch Technology Solutions, Cristal, Huntsman and Centrica Storage.
At Epoch, he will report to Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jacob Nathan and oversee production operations and the supply chain. His remit includes the company's growing operations in Spain and plans for its first commercial recycling facility.
The appointment comes at a key stage in Epoch's industrial expansion. The company recently acquired a nylon 6,6 polymerisation plant in Blanes, Spain, with annual capacity of 52,000 tonnes, which it says is equivalent to about 10% of Europe's nylon 6,6 production capacity.
Production of conventional polymer at the Blanes site is due to restart later this month, giving Epoch an operating manufacturing base as it moves beyond laboratory and pilot work into larger-scale industrial activity.
Manufacturing push
Alongside the Spanish plant, Epoch is building a demonstration facility at Grapht Works, Imperial College London's manufacturing hub in North Acton. The site is designed to process hundreds of tonnes of post-consumer nylon 6,6 waste each year.
Epoch describes the London plant as Europe's first and the world's largest nylon 6,6 biorecycling facility. The project is part of a broader effort to build industrial infrastructure around a process aimed at waste streams that are difficult to recycle through conventional methods.
The company uses AI-engineered enzymes to break down end-of-life nylon 6,6 into the original monomers, adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine. It says this enables recycled output equivalent in quality to virgin material.
Epoch also says the process operates at low temperatures and can handle waste such as silicon-coated airbag fabric, elastane-blended textiles and post-consumer automotive components. These applications highlight sectors where nylon 6,6 is widely used but often discarded because blended or contaminated materials are harder to reprocess.
If the process can be scaled, that could present a sizeable commercial opportunity. More than three million tonnes of nylon 6,6 are produced globally each year, according to Epoch, while less than 1% is currently recycled.
Leadership build-out
Scott's arrival is part of a broader strengthening of Epoch's senior team. In June, the company appointed Dr Bo Ava Chen as Chief Technology Officer, while former INVISTA Chief Technology Officer Jerry Grunewald joined as a senior adviser.
Epoch has also been building ties with established industry players. Earlier this year, it signed a memorandum of understanding with INVISTA to develop post-consumer recycled nylon 6,6 at commercial scale.
The company has raised more than USD $50 million to support its expansion. Backers include lululemon, Lowercarbon Capital, Extantia, KOMPAS and Inditex's Mundi Ventures. In March, Epoch disclosed a USD $12 million strategic funding round.
For a company founded in the UK and now operating across London and Spain, the latest hire suggests the immediate challenge is no longer proving the chemistry alone. It is now about running assets, securing feedstock, managing supply chains and delivering output in volumes customers can buy.
Scott framed his arrival in those terms. "Epoch is at a pivotal moment, moving from technology demonstration to large-scale deployment, and I'm delighted to be joining now. What drew me to the business was its combination of truly differentiated technology and a credible route to building a scalable commercial business around it. I look forward to bringing my experience to Epoch's next phase, from growing our operations in Blanes to progressing our first commercial recycling facility," he said.
Nathan said the appointment reflects the company's shift towards industrial execution. "Jamie's appointment is an important milestone in Epoch's growth, and I'm thrilled to welcome him to the team. His decades of experience across chemical manufacturing, global supply chains and technology commercialisation are exactly what Epoch needs. As we expand our industrial operations and move towards commercial-scale recycling, Jamie will play a central role in turning our momentum into the manufacturing capability needed to deliver circular nylon 6,6 at scale," Nathan said.