AmBev will purchase and use PEF (polyethylene furanoate) for soft drink bottles. PEF is a 100% plant-based and recyclable alternative to PET plastic. While it is possible to use PEF for the entire bottle, Ambev chooses to use it for the inner layer only. Besides the sustainability advantages, PEF also has functional advantages. The oxygen barrier of PEF is ten times better than that of PET, and the CO2 barrier is sixteen times better. This not only increases the shelf life, but also maximises the taste and fizziness of the soft drink.
Tom van Aken, CEO Avantium: “The successful collaboration with AmBev will make PEF available to AmBev’s soft drink portfolio in Brazil and Latin America. This opens a new geography and market for Avantium, accelerating the further adoption and growth of PEF.”
Cosmetics packaging
LVMH already joined the PEFerence consortium coordinated by Avantium and funded by the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) earlier this year. The luxury cosmetics house sees Avantium’s PEF as a sustainable packaging solution for its beauty brands, including Christian Dior Parfums, Givenchy Parfums, Guerlain and many others. After the test results were successful, LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics Houses entered into and offtake agreement.
Avantium is currently constructing the world’s first commercial plant for the production of FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) from plant-based sugars in Delfzijl, The Netherlands. FDCA is the key ingredient for making the plant-based, highly recyclable plastic material PEF, which has superior performance properties compared to today’s widely used petroleum-based packaging materials. Avantium expects to open this FDCA Flagship Plant by the end of 2023, enabling the commercial launch of PEF from 2024 onwards
See Avantium’s website for more information.
Image: foundation of FDCA Flagship plant/Avantium
