Australian biotech pioneer Samsara Eco has officially opened its first commercial-scale plant in Jerrabomberra, regional Australia, marking a game-changing step forward in the fight against plastic waste. The new facility dramatically expands the company’s capacity to produce virgin-identical, low-carbon circular materials including recycled nylon 6,6 and polyester that can be used across apparel, packaging, and automotive industries.
At the heart of the plant is EosEco, Samsara Eco’s breakthrough enzymatic recycling technology, powered by AI. These tailor-made enzymes break down complex, mixed plastics materials typically destined for landfill into valuable raw components. The recycled feedstock can then be repurposed into new, high-performance products without compromising on quality.
“This is a proud milestone for us and for the circular economy,” said Paul Riley, CEO and Founder of Samsara Eco. “In just four years, we’ve moved from lab research to pilot and demonstration, and now to our first plant. This moment represents the shift of circular materials from early innovation into mainstream reality.”
The Jerrabomberra facility doesn’t just scale production it also expands Samsara’s enzyme discovery and development platform, accelerating progress toward recycling more types of plastics. Collaborations are already underway with lululemon, The LYCRA Company, and Deakin University’s Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialization Hub, exploring solutions even for hard-to-recycle materials like spandex.
Currently, just 10% of plastics and less than 1% of textiles are recycled globally. Samsara Eco is aiming to rewrite those statistics by keeping valuable materials in circulation and out of landfill. Its new circular raw materials will soon be featured in global brand product lines, with pilot programs already rolling out in textiles, packaging, and automotive sectors.
The company’s ambitions don’t stop here. The Jerrabomberra site lays the foundation for Samsara Eco’s first 20,000-tonne nylon 6,6 commercial plant, planned for Asia in 2028 in partnership with engineering firm KBR. This will be the first of several international facilities designed to replicate the Jerrabomberra model at scale.
“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’re infinitely recycled, reducing our reliance on finite resources,” Riley emphasized.
Backed by a strong consortium of global investors including Main Sequence, Temasek, Greycroft, and Hitachi Ventures, Samsara Eco is positioning Australia as a leader in advanced circular manufacturing. The plant also supports the nation’s net-zero targets while unlocking export opportunities and creating new skills for the future workforce.
As Phil Morle, Partner at Main Sequence, summed up:
“Samsara Eco opening its first plant for infinite plastic recycling in regional Australia is an exemplar of Australian ingenuity leading the world. This is the first step in eradicating plastic waste.”