REACH, Samsara Eco partner to transform textile recycling with enzyme tech
REACH has joined with Samsara Eco to accelerate the development of a world-first technology capable of recycling plastics and textiles that were once deemed unrecyclable, and could take centuries to break down in the environment.
Textile waste is one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues, driven by fast fashion, overconsumption, and poor disposal practices. In Australia, synthetic fibres like nylon and polyester make up nearly 60% of the materials used in clothing. Yet, with less than 1% of discarded garments being recycled into new clothes, most of them end up in landfill or are incinerated, contributing to pollution and harmful emissions.
Samsara Eco’s AI-designed enzymes can break down fossil-fuel-derived materials, such as nylon 6,6 and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), into their original building blocks or monomers. These monomers can then be used to create new products with the same high quality as virgin materials.
This collaboration will see Samsara Eco leverage Deakin University’s expertise in advanced chemical analysis and polymer processing to address challenges posed by specific additives, such as dyes, finishes, and coatings found in textile waste. Understanding and finding solutions for these contaminants is key to unlocking effective recycling options.
Paul Riley, Founder and CEO of Samsara Eco, commented,
We are laser-focused on creating true circularity, and that means solving the problem of all plastics. This research supports our efforts to make that a reality. Our enzymatic recycling technology is already capable of infinitely recycling PET and nylon 6,6 plastics used in textiles, including mixed fibres and plastics. Our collaboration with Deakin will help us recycle more waste faster, on a larger scale, and with precision.
Paul Riley, Founder and CEO of Samsara Eco
Unlike mechanical recycling, which degrades material quality and limits recyclability, Samsara Eco’s enzymatic depolymerisation technology enables the creation of new, high-performance materials from worn or contaminated textiles.
Deakin University’s Professor Colin Barrow, Chair in Biotechnology at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, explained,
Our research tackles a critical challenge in textile recycling—understanding how dyes, finishes, coatings, and other chemical treatments affect the breakdown and rebuilding of synthetic fibres. By analyzing these contaminants, we can develop processes that allow us to repurpose all types of polyester and nylon into high-performance, recycled materials.
Professor Colin Barrow, Chair in Biotechnology at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
The research team includes Deakin’s Associate Professor Chris Hurren and Dylan Hegh, along with Samsara Eco’s Nirupama Jayasinghe, Keats Nelms, and Jeremy Nugent.
Associate Professor Hurren added, “By testing how these materials perform in real-world polymerisation and processing, we are helping refine the recycling pipeline, bringing closed-loop textile recycling closer to commercial reality.“
As global pressure increases on the textile industry to cut emissions and reduce waste, Associate Professor Hurren believes this technology could revolutionize the sector. “We are working toward a scalable, circular future for fashion—one that reduces reliance on harmful materials and keeps textiles out of landfill,” he said.
Samsara Eco already has a 10-year agreement with global activewear brand lululemon, which will support around 20% of its fibre portfolio with Samsara’s recycled materials. This partnership builds on previous collaborations, including the world’s first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 garment and a limited-edition Packable Anorak jacket made from enzymatically recycled polyester.
With its first commercial facility set to open in Jerrabomberra later this year, Samsara Eco’s 2030 vision is to recycle half a billion clothing items and 10 billion plastic bottles annually, avoiding hundreds of thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions.
We are uniquely positioned to recycle mixed plastics and fibres. By taking post-industrial and post-consumer waste, we are creating new products and already working with brands to replace virgin inputs with our low-carbon, enzymatically recycled materials, which can be seamlessly integrated into existing supply chains.
Paul Riley, Founder and CEO of Samsara Eco
