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Posted: August 8, 2025
Samsara Eco has partnered with Deakin University’s REACH hub to accelerate enzyme-based textile recycling. With synthetic fibers making up 60% of Australian clothing but less than 1% being recycled, this collaboration could transform textile waste into virgin-quality materials and push the fashion industry closer to true circularity.
Samsara Eco has joined forces with Deakin University’s Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub (REACH) to speed up the development of enzyme-powered technology capable of recycling textiles that were once thought impossible to reuse. With synthetic fibers such as nylon and polyester making up nearly 60% of clothing in Australia, and less than 1% of discarded garments recycled into new apparel, this innovation could reshape the future of textile recycling technology. Samsara Eco’s AI-designed enzymes break down materials like nylon 6,6 and PET into their original building blocks, which can then be reconstituted into products that perform just like virgin materials.
The partnership will leverage Deakin’s expertise in chemical analysis and polymer processing to improve recycling outcomes for textiles containing complex additives such as dyes and finishes. Samsara Eco’s enzymatic depolymerisation technology is already proving it can infinitely recycle PET and nylon without degrading quality, setting it apart from traditional mechanical recycling methods. According to CEO Paul Riley, the company is “laser-focused on creating true circularity” and this collaboration is critical for scaling up solutions that work at speed and precision.
Beyond research, Samsara Eco is already working with global brands like Lululemon, which plans to integrate recycled materials into 20% of its fiber portfolio by 2030. The company aims to open its first commercial recycling plant in Jerrabomberra this year, with a bold vision to process 500 million garments and 10 billion plastic bottles annually by the end of the decade. By advancing textile recycling technology at scale, Samsara Eco believes it can help prevent hundreds of thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions and pave the way for a truly circular fashion industry.
