Samsara Eco opens first circular plastics plant

Australian biotech company Samsara Eco last week announced the opening its first plastics recycling plant, located in Jerrabomberra, NSW.

The company says the new plant will exponentially increase its ability to produce virgin-identical, low-carbon circular materials like recycled nylon 6,6 and polyester with broad applications across the apparel, packaging and automotive industries.

The new headquarters and plant houses EosEco, the company’s enzymatic recycling technology. The technology uses AI-crafted enzymes to break down mixed plastics destined for landfill into recycled raw materials, ready for brands to incorporate into their next product line. The facility also houses expanded enzyme production facilities, allowing Samsara Eco to further build out its proprietary AI-powered enzyme discovery and development platform to find recycling solutions for a broader range of plastics.

“The opening of Jerrabomberra is a proud milestone for us and the broader circular economy,” said Paul Riley, CEO and founder of Samsara Eco. “In just four years, we’ve scaled from bench research through to pilot, demonstration, and now our first plant. This is a true tipping point for circularity, shifting circular materials from early-stage innovation to mainstream reality.”

The circular materials made at Jerrabomberra will feature in upcoming product lines for global brands like Lululemon, as well as pilot programs and trials with brands across textiles, automotive and packaging. The facility will also host research including finding recycling solutions for the likes of spandex with The LYCRA Company, and a collaboration with Deakin University’s Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub, part of the Australian Government’s Trailblazer Universities Program.

Today, only 10% of plastics are recycled and less than 1% of textiles are recycled into new textiles, perpetuating a linear economy.

“This isn’t just about building a plant. It's about building a circular future where materials don’t have an end of life. Instead, they are infinitely recycled, reducing the world’s reliance on finite resources,” Riley said.

Jerrabomberra provides a runway for Samsara Eco’s first nylon 6,6 commercial plant, which is being designed with engineering partner KBR and due to open in Asia in 2028. The 20,000 tonne facility will be the first of a fleet of international commercial facilities that will use EosEco technology to turn waste into virgin-identical raw materials.

“Our Jerrabomberra plant marks a significant milestone in Australia’s advanced manufacturing and circular economy journey,” Riley added. “Our technology supports Australia’s net-zero targets while driving economic growth, resilience and productivity.

“We’re grateful for the support we’ve received from our global investors including Main Sequence and Temasek, as well as the local community, who have supported us every step of the way to make Jerrabomberra a reality.”

Image credit: Samsara Eco.