Avantium has signed a joint development agreement with Amcor to explore the use of Avantium’s plant-based polymer PEF - branded as Releaf - in rigid containers for products including food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home, and personal care.
Releaf is a ‘100% plant-based, high-performance’ polymer said to be recyclable in existing PET (polyethylene terephthalate) recycling streams. Apparently, it is included in the Critical Guidance Protocol from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR).
Releaf is said to have superior barrier properties which extend the shelf life of food and beverages, higher mechanical strength that reduces material usage and a lower processing temperature that cuts energy consumption compared to traditional fossil-based plastics.
Avantium has developed a proprietary process technology to produce FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the key building block for PEF (polyethylene furanoate), and is currently in the process of starting up an FDCA plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. Avantium says the FDCA flagship plant will allow the company to sell FDCA and PEF directly to customers while also offering technology licenses to industrial partners.
Amcor has also committed to a multi-year capacity reservation for PEF from a future industrial-scale facility, based on a technology license from Avantium. The agreement guarantees Amcor preferred access to PEF volumes produced by Avantium’s future licensee network.
Releaf was launched last October as an alternative material in packaging, bottle, and textile production. Avantium stated that the name and leaf logo alluded to the replacement of fossil plastics with plant-based solutions.
The company collaborated with fresh food company Royal Vezet the same month to implement its polyethylene furanoate (PEF) based packaging for salad bowls. Avantium aimed to offer a renewable and circular packaging solution for the salad bowls, set to be used by Netherlands supermarket chain Albert Heijn.
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