Avantium Partners to Advance Bio-Based Polymers
Amsterdam-based Avantium has announced a collaboration with Will & Co to promote the use of FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), a key building block for bio-based plastics. The partnership aims to develop FDCA applications in coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers, positioning the material as a renewable, circular alternative to fossil-based inputs.
- Avantium's new FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands, is the world's first commercial-scale facility for producing furandicarboxylic acid and is expected to have a capacity of 5 kilotons per year. Commercial sales are anticipated to begin in the second half of 2026. - The Delfzijl plant will utilize a catalytical process known as YXY® Technology to convert plant-based sugars, specifically wheat-derived high-fructose syrup, into FDCA. This bio-based approach offers a renewable alternative to petroleum-based chemicals. - FDCA is the primary chemical building block for polyethylene furanoate (PEF), a 100% plant-based and recyclable polymer marketed by Avantium under the brand name Releaf®. PEF demonstrates superior performance compared to traditional PET plastic, with an improved barrier against oxygen and CO2, which can extend the shelf life of packaged products. - The partnership with Will & Co, a chemical distributor founded in 1924, is strategic for penetrating the coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers (CASE) markets. This collaboration aims to position FDCA as a sustainable component in materials for construction, automotive, and flooring applications. - Beyond coatings and adhesives, Avantium is actively partnering with major brands to introduce PEF across various sectors. Collaborations include developing PEF-based yarns for mattresses with Auping and creating sustainable apparel with PANGAIA. - To accelerate the industrial-scale production of its PEF polymer, Avantium has signed Memoranda of Understanding with agricultural producer Tereos and LVMH GAÏA, the R&D division of the luxury goods company. - The polymer PEF is compatible with existing PET recycling streams, a critical factor for its integration into a circular economy. It has received interim approval from European bodies for inclusion in the PET bottle recycling market. - In October 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved PEF for use in a wide range of food packaging applications, complementing existing approvals in the European Union.
