In the Netherlands, Avantium N.V., a leading company in renewable and circular polymer materials, has announced that its innovative PET/PEF multilayer bottle has been recognized as fully compatible with the PET recycling stream following an evaluation by RecyClass, the European non-profit initiative dedicated to advancing plastics circularity.
Branded as “releaf”, Avantium’s polyethylene furanoate (PEF) can be used in fully plant-based monolayer PEF bottles, but also has advantages in combination with polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
For example, PEF can be used in multilayer PET bottles as a barrier material when the required shelf life cannot be guaranteed by a single layer of PET.
Currently, many multilayer PET bottles include nylon as a barrier, which is known to cause issues when recycled within the PET recycling stream.
According to Avantium, thanks to its excellent barrier properties and its close resemblance to PET, a PEF layer is a superior alternative.
Full PET recycling stream compatibility
The RecyClass PET Technical Committee evaluated Avantium’s PET/PEF multilayer bottle, containing 10 percent PEF releaf RP90N, through lab tests by PTI-Europe and Plastics Forming Enterprises.
The results confirmed full compatibility with the PET recycling stream under the conditions outlined in the RecyClass Approval Letter.
RecyClass collaborates with the US-based Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) to harmonize recyclability recommendations and testing procedures.
Avantium’s PEF received APR Critical Guidance Recognition in 2023. With both approvals, brand owners can confidently adopt PEF as a recyclable barrier layer.
Additionally, RecyClass validation supports favorable acceptance by national producer responsibility organizations (PROs), which oversee compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations and determine packaging-related EPR fees.
EPR is a policy mechanism that requires producers to, amongst others, pay fees based on recyclability and environmental impact.
This recognition by RecyClass clearly demonstrates that PEF can be successfully integrated into the PET recycling stream. By offering a 100 percent high-barrier polyester solution, the PEF/PET multilayer bottle opens new possibilities for sustainable packaging. It gives brand owners and converters the confidence to adopt PEF as a functional barrier layer in their PET applications, commented Ingrid Goumans, Director of Public Affairs at Avantium.
