Epoch Biodesign has named Jamie Scott chief operating officer, charging a 30-year chemical manufacturing veteran with running production and supply chain as the UK company moves its nylon 6,6 biorecycling technology toward commercial scale.

Scott reports directly to founder and CEO Jacob Nathan. His remit covers the company's industrial operations, including a recently acquired 52,000-tonne-per-year nylon 6,6 polymerisation plant in Blanes, Spain, and a demonstration biorecycling facility now under construction in London.

Scott has held leadership roles at Koch Technology Solutions, INVISTA, Cristal, Huntsman and Centrica Storage. His hiring continues a deliberate build-out of senior management with heavy chemical-industry experience. Dr Bo Ava Chen became chief technology officer in June, and former INVISTA CTO Jerry Grunewald joined as a senior advisor.

What capacity does Epoch now control?

The Blanes acquisition is the concrete asset behind the appointment. Epoch says the site represents roughly 10% of European nylon 6,6 polymerisation capacity. Conventional nylon production resumes at the plant later this month, giving the company a conventional manufacturing base alongside its recycling ambitions.

The company has also started building a demonstration facility at Imperial College London's advanced manufacturing centre in North Acton. Once operational, the plant is expected to process hundreds of tonnes of post-consumer nylon 6,6 waste per year. Epoch claims it will be Europe's first and the world's largest biorecycling plant for the polymer — a claim the trade should treat as an announced intention until the site reports throughput.

How does the technology work?

Epoch uses engineered enzymes to break down end-of-life nylon 6,6 into adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine, its constituent monomers. Recycled material produced this way matches the properties of virgin polymer, according to the company.

The process runs at low temperatures and can handle complex waste streams that mechanical recycling struggles with: airbag fabrics, textiles containing elastane and automotive parts. For brands sourcing blended-performance fabrics, that feedstock flexibility matters — it widens the pool of collectable waste and could ease the supply constraints that have limited recycled nylon availability.

Who is paying for the expansion?

Epoch has secured more than $50 million for its expansion, including $12 million in strategic funding announced in March. The company also signed a memorandum of understanding with INVISTA in February to explore commercial-scale recycling of post-consumer nylon 6,6 — an intent, not yet a confirmed offtake or joint venture.

For sourcing teams, the sequencing is clear: conventional nylon flows from Blanes resume this month, enzymatic recycling output remains at demonstration scale, and commercial volumes depend on the North Acton plant proving it can process hundreds of tonnes of blended waste annually.

What did the two executives say?

Nathan framed the hire as a bridge from technology to manufacturing. He said: "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."

He added that Scott will play a central role in turning the company's momentum into "the manufacturing capability needed to deliver circular nylon 6,6 at scale."

Scott, for his part, signalled where his priorities lie. He said: "Epoch is at a pivotal moment, moving from technology demonstration to large-scale deployment, and I'm delighted to be joining now." He pointed to growing the Blanes operations and progressing the first commercial recycling facility as his immediate tasks.

The industry will now watch two markers: conventional production volumes from Blanes, and commissioning data from the North Acton demonstration plant, which will indicate whether enzymatic nylon 6,6 recycling can move from pilot claims to priced, certified supply.