Watermark short

Releaf® and FDCA

Advancing the Science of Sustainability

The Future is Releaf® (PEF):
The Plant-Based, Recyclable Polymer

Releaf®

With a wide range of applications such as packaging, textiles, and film, PEF, known under the brand name Releaf®, boasts impressive barrier properties for carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen, leading to a longer shelf life of packaged products when compared to PET and conventional plastics. Its higher mechanical strength allows for thinner packaging, reducing resource usage. This powerful combination of environmental features and superior functionality position PEF as the next-generation polyester.

Read more about Releaf®

Benefits of Using Releaf®

Renewable

Recyclable

Lower carbon footprint

Superior barrier properties, extending the shelf life of food and beverages

More attractive thermal properties

Higher mechanical strength

The Multifaceted Applications of Releaf®

Releaf® Bottles

  • Longer Shelf Life: Ideal for fresh products, different types of beverages, including alcoholic beverages, etc.
  • Visually Attractive: Enhanced appearance for marketing.
  • Versatile Usage: Can be used as monolayer PEF or combined with other materials.
  • Competing Materials: Glass, aluminum, paper, PET, and multi-layer bottles.
  • Volume: 100 million tons/year.

Releaf® Fibres

  • Stronger Properties: Superior strength for various applications.
  • Applications: Textiles, upholstery, car tires, and industrial fibers.
  • Competing Materials: PET, nylon, cotton.
  • Volume: Over 50 million tons/year.

Releaf® Film & More

  • Longer Shelf Life: Extends freshness of packaged goods.
  • Markets: Suitable for packaging food and non-food products.
  • Competing Materials: Glass, aluminum, paper, PET, and multi-layer formats.
  • Volume: Over 5 million tons/year.

Partnering Across the Entire Value Chain

Waking Up the Sleeping Giant

FDCA

FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) is the key building block for the high-performance plant-based polymer PEF. For a long time, an economically viable way to manufacture FDCA remained out of reach, leading to it being labeled ‘the sleeping giant of the chemicals industry’ – but that has all changed with the development of Avantium’s YXY® Technology. As a monomer, FDCA offers exciting opportunities to create a wide range of useful and sustainable polymers. Other FDCA-based polyesters, co-polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, and coating resins are also possible.

Avantium’s ongoing R&D efforts focus on enhancing the performance and scalability of PEF and FDCA, ensuring these materials meet the demands of a sustainable future.

Explore the YXY Technology behind FDCA

YXY Technology

Imagine a Circular Plant-Based Plastic with High-Performance Properties and Endless Possibilities

07@3x

YXY Technology catalytically converts plant-based sugars into FDCA, the key ingredient for making the next-generation polymer known as PEF. A plant-based and recyclable plastic, PEF is imbued with superior performance properties compared to today’s petroleum-based packaging materials. PEF’s excellent barrier properties extend product shelf life, and its high mechanical strength offers lightweight solutions, reducing material usage.

Cultivating a cleaner tomorrow.

Pioneering FDCA Production

Collaboration for Innovation

Growing a Green Ecosystem

Meeting Global Demand

Scaling Through Licensing

PEF Recyclability

PEF has received Critical Guidance Recognition from the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR), and has received an interim endorsement from the European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) for recycling of multilayer PET/PEF packaging in the European bottle recycling market. PEF also received an interim endorsement from EPBP for monolayer PEF bottles, the data shows that up to 2% market penetration PEF is not negatively impacting the quality of the PET recycling stream.

More About PEF Recyclability

Life Cycle Assessment

Third-party peer-reviewed and ISO-certified Life Cycle Assessments show that Avantium’s PEF can enable a 88% reduction in GHG emissions over the life cycle of a 500 ml PET bottle. Emissions from bio-based bottles upon incineration are compensated by CO2 removal during the renewable feedstock growth.

More About Our LCAs

Discover more

Our Sustainability Strategy

Sustainability is at the heart of Avantium. Our goal is a fossil-free world, realized through innovation and robust governance.

Learn more

Textile Waste Recycling

Avantium’s Dawn Technology® converts textile waste into high-value chemicals and materials, promoting a sustainable future by utilizing renewable feedstocks.

Learn more