Jacob Nathan, founder and CEO of Epoch Biodesign, has developed a system to break down plastics into monomers, the basic building blocks from which plastic is made. The company uses enzymes to convert waste fabric, not petroleum, into a form ready to make more plastic. The process is being applied to nylon 6,6, a high-strength synthetic material used in everything from clothing to airbags to carpets to climbing ropes. Epoch's approach has been successful with investors, including Lululemon, which produces clothing made from plastics. The $12 million funding round will fund a demonstration-scale facility near Imperial College London and a commercial scale facility in 2028.