Avantium has entered a capacity reservation agreement with Klöckner Pentaplast (kp films) linked to the future supply of its plant-based polyethylene furanoate (PEF) polymer, sold under the releaf name.
The arrangement is intended to support work on using the material in thermoformed food packaging such as trays and other formats used for fresh and prepared food.
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Releaf is produced from furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), described by Avantium as its flagship molecule.
According to the company, the material’s oxygen and carbon dioxide barrier characteristics could help lengthen shelf life in some rigid packaging uses, with possible benefits for reducing food waste.
Those properties are also under assessment for flexible lidding films and flow-wrap packaging structures that require high barrier performance.
Avantium said the material has a reduced carbon footprint and may help with packaging designs aimed at recyclability, offering an option in place of some conventional multi-layer trays that are harder to recycle.
Under the agreement, kp is seeking access to future releaf volumes from planned industrial-scale plants that would be built and run by licensees using Avantium’s technology.
Klöckner Pentaplast senior innovations manager Samuel Pardo said: “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 programme.”
The deal could support later commercial use of releaf in thermoformed food packaging across Europe.
It also fits with Avantium’s plan to build a global network of licensed PEF production sites.
The agreement further supports evaluation work and possible future access to supply, subject to the material meeting technical, regulatory and commercial norms.
Avantium chief commercial officer Marco Jansen said: “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.”
