KBR Selected as Key Commercialization Partner for Samsara Eco’s First-of-a-Kind Enzymatic Recycling Plant
KBR has been selected to design a groundbreaking enzymatic recycling plant for Samsara Eco, scheduled for completion in early 2028. The facility will process 20,000 metric tons of nylon 6,6 annually using Samsara's AI-powered enzyme technology.
The innovative technology breaks down hard-to-recycle plastics and textiles into their original building blocks, enabling continuous remanufacturing without quality loss. Notable achievements include recycling challenging materials like nylon 6,6, mixed fibers, and colored fabrics.
KBR will deliver pre-FEED by Q2 2025, followed by FEED engineering for the commercial facility. Samsara Eco has already partnered with lululemon, creating the world's first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 product and a limited-edition Packable Anorak jacket made from recycled polyester.
KBR è stata scelta per progettare un impianto innovativo di riciclo enzimatico per Samsara Eco, con completamento previsto per i primi mesi del 2028. L'impianto tratterà annualmente 20.000 tonnellate metriche di nylon 6,6 utilizzando la tecnologia enzimatica basata su intelligenza artificiale di Samsara.
Questa tecnologia all'avanguardia scompone plastiche e tessuti difficili da riciclare nei loro elementi di base originali, permettendo un processo di rigenerazione continua senza perdita di qualità. Tra i risultati più significativi c'è il riciclo di materiali complessi come nylon 6,6, fibre miste e tessuti colorati.
KBR consegnerà il pre-FEED entro il secondo trimestre del 2025, seguito dall'ingegneria FEED per l'impianto commerciale. Samsara Eco ha già collaborato con lululemon, dando vita al primo prodotto al mondo in nylon 6,6 riciclato enzimaticamente e a una giacca Packable Anorak in edizione limitata realizzata con poliestere riciclato.
KBR ha sido seleccionada para diseñar una planta revolucionaria de reciclaje enzimático para Samsara Eco, con finalización prevista a principios de 2028. La instalación procesará anualmente 20,000 toneladas métricas de nylon 6,6 utilizando la tecnología enzimática impulsada por IA de Samsara.
Esta tecnología innovadora descompone plásticos y textiles difíciles de reciclar en sus bloques constructores originales, permitiendo una remanufactura continua sin pérdida de calidad. Entre los logros destacados está el reciclaje de materiales complejos como nylon 6,6, fibras mixtas y telas de colores.
KBR entregará el pre-FEED para el segundo trimestre de 2025, seguido por la ingeniería FEED para la planta comercial. Samsara Eco ya se ha asociado con lululemon, creando el primer producto de nylon 6,6 reciclado enzimáticamente del mundo y una chaqueta Packable Anorak de edición limitada hecha con poliéster reciclado.
KBR가 Samsara Eco를 위한 획기적인 효소 재활용 공장 설계를 맡았으며, 2028년 초 완공을 목표로 하고 있습니다. 이 시설은 Samsara의 AI 기반 효소 기술을 활용하여 연간 20,000미터톤의 나일론 6,6을 처리할 예정입니다.
혁신적인 기술은 재활용이 어려운 플라스틱과 섬유를 원래의 구성 요소로 분해하여 품질 저하 없이 지속적인 재제조가 가능하게 합니다. 주요 성과로는 나일론 6,6, 혼합 섬유, 컬러 원단과 같은 까다로운 소재의 재활용이 있습니다.
KBR는 2025년 2분기까지 사전 FEED를 제공하고, 이후 상업용 시설을 위한 FEED 엔지니어링을 진행할 예정입니다. Samsara Eco는 이미 lululemon과 협력하여 세계 최초의 효소 재활용 나일론 6,6 제품과 재활용 폴리에스터로 만든 한정판 팩커블 아노락 재킷을 출시했습니다.
KBR a été sélectionnée pour concevoir une usine de recyclage enzymatique révolutionnaire pour Samsara Eco, dont l'achèvement est prévu début 2028. L'installation traitera annuellement 20 000 tonnes métriques de nylon 6,6 en utilisant la technologie enzymatique alimentée par l'IA de Samsara.
Cette technologie innovante décompose les plastiques et textiles difficiles à recycler en leurs éléments de base d'origine, permettant une remanufacturation continue sans perte de qualité. Parmi les réalisations notables figure le recyclage de matériaux complexes tels que le nylon 6,6, les fibres mélangées et les tissus colorés.
KBR livrera la phase pré-FEED d'ici le deuxième trimestre 2025, suivie par l'ingénierie FEED pour l'installation commerciale. Samsara Eco s'est déjà associée à lululemon, créant le premier produit au monde en nylon 6,6 recyclé enzymatiquement ainsi qu'une veste Packable Anorak en édition limitée fabriquée à partir de polyester recyclé.
KBR wurde ausgewählt, eine bahnbrechende enzymatische Recyclinganlage für Samsara Eco zu entwerfen, deren Fertigstellung für Anfang 2028 geplant ist. Die Anlage wird jährlich 20.000 Tonnen Nylon 6,6 mit Samsaras KI-gestützter Enzymtechnologie verarbeiten.
Die innovative Technologie zerlegt schwer recycelbare Kunststoffe und Textilien in ihre ursprünglichen Bausteine, was eine kontinuierliche Wiederverwertung ohne Qualitätsverlust ermöglicht. Zu den bemerkenswerten Erfolgen gehört das Recycling anspruchsvoller Materialien wie Nylon 6,6, Mischfasern und farbiger Stoffe.
KBR wird bis zum zweiten Quartal 2025 die Pre-FEED-Phase liefern, gefolgt von der FEED-Planung für die kommerzielle Anlage. Samsara Eco hat bereits mit lululemon zusammengearbeitet und das weltweit erste enzymatisch recycelte Nylon 6,6 Produkt sowie eine limitierte Packable Anorak-Jacke aus recyceltem Polyester entwickelt.
- Secured major engineering contract for Samsara Eco's first commercial recycling facility
- Project strengthens KBR's position in sustainable technology solutions market
- Partnership with established brands like lululemon demonstrates commercial viability
- 20,000 metric tons per year facility shows significant commercial scale
- Technology successfully demonstrated with first-of-kind products already in market
- Long timeline to completion (2028) may delay revenue recognition
- Initial phase limited to pre-FEED and FEED work, full project execution not guaranteed
- Early-stage technology carries execution and scaling risks
Insights
KBR enters enzymatic recycling market with Samsara Eco partnership, expanding sustainable engineering portfolio with first commercial plant design.
KBR's new partnership with Samsara Eco marks a strategic expansion of its sustainable technology solutions portfolio. The agreement tasks KBR with developing pre-FEED and FEED engineering packages for what's described as a first-of-a-kind enzymatic recycling facility. This 20,000 metric tons per year commercial plant for nylon 6,6 recycling represents an application of novel technology in the plastic circular economy space.
The technical specifications of the project are significant from an engineering perspective. Enzymatic recycling fundamentally differs from traditional mechanical recycling by breaking down plastics to their monomer building blocks rather than simply reshaping existing polymers. According to the article, this potentially allows for continuous remanufacturing without quality degradation. The process is described as having a low carbon footprint compared to conventional methods.
From a timeline perspective, KBR will deliver the pre-FEED by Q2 2025, with plant completion targeted for early 2028. This indicates a substantial, multi-year engineering project. Samsara's technology has demonstrated commercial application potential through existing relationships with consumer brands like lululemon, which suggests there's an established market pathway for the recycled materials.
The emphasis on recycling "notoriously difficult plastics" including nylon 6,6 and mixed fibers identifies a specific technical niche that traditional recycling methods struggle to address. This project appears well-aligned with KBR's statement from President Jay Ibrahim about their "commitment to sustainability and technological innovation."
KBR secures engineering contract for innovative recycling facility, expanding its sustainable technology portfolio without disclosed financial terms.
KBR has secured a new engineering services contract in the growing sustainable materials sector through its partnership with biotech company Samsara Eco. While the financial terms of the agreement weren't disclosed, the contract encompasses both pre-FEED and FEED engineering packages for what's described as a first commercial-scale enzymatic plastic recycling facility.
The scope of work indicates this is more than a preliminary study, with KBR delivering comprehensive engineering designs for a 20,000 metric ton per year facility processing nylon 6,6. The multi-phase approach with pre-FEED completion by Q2 2025 suggests a structured project pipeline with near-term revenue generation from engineering services well before the plant's 2028 completion target.
This contract aligns with KBR's strategic focus on its Sustainable Technology Solutions segment, which the company has been expanding beyond its traditional hydrocarbon engineering base. The recycling sector represents a diversification opportunity as global regulations increasingly mandate circular economy solutions for plastics.
The commercial viability of the underlying technology is supported by Samsara's existing relationships with consumer brands including lululemon, which has already used the enzymatically recycled materials in commercial products. This suggests market demand for the facility's output, which could enhance the project's progression to completion.
While a single engineering contract is unlikely to materially impact KBR's overall financial performance in the near term, it demonstrates continued business development in a strategic growth segment the company has publicly prioritized.
HOUSTON, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today it will support biotech innovator, Samsara Eco, to design its first-of-a-kind plastics and textile enzymatic recycling plant, due for completion in early 2028.
Samsara Eco’s enzymatic recycling technology aims to create a continuous recycling loop for some of the most common types of plastic and synthetic fiber – materials that have traditionally been difficult or impossible to recycle. Powered by Samsara Eco’s proprietary AI platform, the company’s patented enzymes break down plastic to its original building blocks (monomers) which aim to allow plastics to be continuously remanufactured into new products without degradation in quality and with a low carbon footprint. Unlike other recycling methods, Samsara Eco’s technology has demonstrated the recycling of notoriously difficult plastics, including nylon 6,6 and mixed fibers, as well as colored and dyed fabric blends. This breakthrough technology is expected to be critical towards achieving the goal of creating a circular loop for all plastics recycling, helping companies utilize resources and divert waste otherwise destined for landfills.
Under the terms of the agreement, KBR will perform a pre-FEED (front-end engineering design) of the project by the end of Q2 2025. KBR’s technical and commercial experts will then deliver a FEED engineering package for the process design to build a 20,000 metric tons per year commercial facility for nylon 6,6.
“KBR is uniquely equipped to deliver world-class solutions that help our customers bring sustainable technology to market, and we are thrilled to support Samsara Eco on this unique opportunity,” said Jay Ibrahim, President, KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions. “With this award, KBR continues to solidify our commitment to sustainability and technological innovation.”
Paul Riley, Founder and CEO of Samsara Eco commented, “We are charging full speed ahead to deliver our first-of-a-kind plant to fuel a circular economy and support our brand partners’ ambition to create more circular products from low-carbon recycled materials. KBR brings unmatched engineering expertise. This will ensure we can design and build our facility with speed and precision. We’re proud to have KBR in our corner, helping to bring our technology to industrial scale.”
Samsara Eco is already working with leading brands including lululemon to swap virgin materials for recycled materials. Last year, it debuted the world’s first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 product. It also launched the first product made from enzymatically recycled polyester, creating lululemon’s limited edition Packable Anorak jacket.
At KBR, a more sustainable future begins now.
About KBR
We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 38,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in over 29 countries. KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.
Visit www.kbr.com
About Samsara Eco
Samsara Eco is an Australian biotech on a mission to repair our planet through infinite plastic recycling. With our enzymatic recycling technology, EosEco™, we break down plastics and textiles to their original building blocks so they can be recreated into new products, infinitely. Our aim is to create a truly circular loop for plastics and textiles to reduce waste and the world’s reliance on climate-damaging fossil fuels.
Samsara Eco launched in 2021 in partnership with the Australian National University (ANU), and with backing from Main Sequence and the Woolworths Group. It has raised over AUD
Visit www.samsaraeco.com
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