Avantium secures capacity deal with Logoplaste to scale plant-based Releaf polymer for packaging

NETHERLANDS – Dutch renewable materials firm Avantium has signed a capacity reservation agreement with packaging specialist Logoplaste for its innovative polyethylene furanoate (PEF) polymer, sold as Releaf. 

This plant-based material, produced from renewable sugars via Avantium’s YXY technology, provides strong barrier properties for uses in beverages, food, pharmaceuticals, home care, and personal care sectors.

The deal enables Logoplaste to lock in future supplies from Avantium’s licensed production sites. 

It builds on earlier tests that confirmed Releaf’s suitability for high-performance applications. Paulo Correia, Logoplaste’s chief technology officer, said the partnership would speed up creation of new packaging options. 

He noted that it supports client goals for circular designs while maintaining product quality.

Both firms already collaborate in the Bottle Collective, a group developing recyclable fiber-based bottles alongside companies like Diageo, Opella, and Haleon. 

This latest move widens their work to Logoplaste’s full range of injection and blow molding processes. Logoplaste focuses on eco-friendly solutions that meet strict performance standards.

Avantium is advancing production with a new commercial-scale plant for furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), the core building block of PEF, set to open in Delfzijl, Netherlands. 

This follows successful pilot operations in Geleen. 

The facility will produce enough FDCA to support over 50,000 metric tons of PEF annually, valued at more than US$200 million in output. 

Bineke Posthumus, Avantium’s business development director, described the agreement as a step toward reliable supply chains. She added that it would help deliver materials with renewable content exceeding 90%.

Industry watchers see this as part of a broader shift in packaging. Recent data from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation shows global demand for bio-based alternatives rising 15%  yearly, driven by regulations in Europe and the Middle East. 

In a related development, Middle East packaging leaders announced plans last month to invest US$150 million in regional bio-polymer trials, targeting a 30% cut in plastic waste by 2030. 

This includes trials with furan-based resins similar to PEF for water bottling.

The agreement arrives amid growing pressure on brands to reduce fossil-fuel reliance. Releaf’s recyclability matches PET standards, allowing integration into existing streams.

 Logoplaste aims to launch initial Releaf prototypes next year, starting with beverage containers. Avantium expects first commercial deliveries from Delfzijl by mid-2026.

This collaboration highlights practical steps in the sector. With production scaling, companies like these could meet rising needs for materials that lower carbon footprints without sacrificing durability. 

Early adopters report up to 70%  greenhouse gas savings compared to traditional plastics.

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