Avantium, Tereos, LVMH partner to scale plant-based packaging in Europe

FRANCE – Dutch renewable chemistry pioneer Avantium has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with French agricultural cooperative Tereos and luxury goods leader LVMH to accelerate the industrial-scale production of Releaf, Avantium’s plant-based polymer designed for sustainable packaging.

Releaf, made from renewable feedstocks such as sugars and starches, is positioned as a drop-in replacement for fossil-based plastics with applications across food, beverage, and cosmetics packaging.

The partnership forms part of a broader European consortium working to build the continent’s first large-scale bioplastics facility, underpinned by Avantium’s proprietary YXY technology that converts plant-based feedstock into furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a key building block for polyethylene furanoate (PEF) polymers.

“This partnership with LVMH and Tereos is an exciting step in our journey to bring Releaf to market at scale,” said Tom van Aken, CEO of Avantium.

“It builds on our successful collaboration and reflects a shared commitment to accelerating the transition to renewable materials.”

Tereos, which represents 10,300 cooperative members and operates 38 industrial sites in 14 countries, will provide renewable raw materials for the bioplastic’s production.

“We are proud to strengthen our collaboration with LVMH and Avantium,” said Olivier Leducq, CEO of Tereos. “Our commitments to regenerative agriculture and decarbonisation are central to this project.”

Luxury powerhouse LVMH, meanwhile, is aligning the partnership with its Life 360 environmental program, which aims to eliminate fossil-based plastics from its packaging portfolio.

Claude Martinez, president and CEO at LVMH Gaïa, commented, “Our partnership with Avantium has already shown the potential of renewable materials in luxury packaging. With this new step, we reinforce our ambition to eliminate fossil plastics while ensuring performance and aesthetics.”

Avantium has been steadily advancing Releaf’s credibility within the circular economy. Its PET/PEF multilayer bottles were recently confirmed by RecyClass as fully compatible with existing PET recycling streams, a breakthrough for scaling adoption.

The company has also partnered with Dutch firms Royal Hordijk and Hoogesteger to introduce Releaf polymers into consumer packaging, demonstrating commercial readiness.

As global demand for sustainable packaging accelerates, bioplastics such as PEF are gaining traction as viable alternatives to PET.

With Tereos’ agricultural supply, LVMH’s luxury brand influence, and Avantium’s technological edge, the partnership is expected to position Europe as a leader in renewable packaging innovation over the coming decade.

Subscribe to our email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE