In the Netherlands, Avantium N.V., a pioneer in renewable and circular polymer materials, has announced the signing of a capacity reservation agreement with Klöckner Pentaplast Group (kp films), a global leader in rigid and flexible packaging and specialty film solutions.
The agreement supports the companies’ ambition to explore the use of Avantium’s plant-based polymer polyethylene furanoate (PEF), branded as “releaf”, in thermoformed food packaging applications, including food trays and other packaging designed to protect fresh and prepared foods.
This plant-based, high-performance polymer is made from furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), Avantium’s flagship molecule.
High performance, recyclable, and lower footprint
As the packaging industry seeks solutions that combine high performance, recyclability, and a lower environmental footprint, releaf represents an innovative material under evaluation for packaging applications.
Its oxygen and carbon dioxide barrier properties offer the potential to extend shelf life in selected rigid packaging applications, helping to keep food fresh for longer and contributing to reduced food waste.
These barrier properties are also being evaluated for use in flexible lidding films and flow-wrap packaging structures requiring high barrier performance.
At the same time, its lower carbon footprint can support sustainability goals of brands and converters.
In addition, releaf may support the development of packaging structures designed for recyclability, providing an alternative to conventional multi-layer trays that are more challenging to recycle.
Capacity reservation agreement
In view of the next phase of development, kp has signed a capacity reservation agreement supporting access to future volumes of releaf from prospective industrial-scale plants to be built and operated by licensees using Avantium’s technology.
At kp, we are continuously exploring innovative and emerging packaging materials that can help our customers meet their sustainability goals while maintaining the high performance required for food packaging applications. Releaf® combines renewable feedstock origins and barrier characteristics that make it an interesting option for evaluation in thermoformed food packaging applications. Through this agreement, we plan to continue assessing the material’s performance, processability, and suitability as part of our broader innovation program, said Samuel Pardo, Senior Innovations Manager at Klöckner Pentaplast.
The agreement provides a possible pathway toward the future commercial deployment of releaf in thermoformed food packaging applications across Europe, and aligns with Avantium’s strategy to establish a global network of licensed PEF production facilities.
The agreement also facilitates ongoing evaluation activities and potential future access to volumes subject to the material meeting technical, regulatory and commercial requirements.
We are delighted to deepen our collaboration with kp, a leading global packaging company. Thermoformed food packaging is an important market for PEF, where its combination of barrier performance, recyclability and renewable origin can create tangible value. This capacity reservation demonstrates growing market interest in PEF and supports our strategy to establish future industrial-scale PEF production through technology licensing, commented Marco Jansen, Chief Commercial Officer at Avantium.
