Avantium collaborates with Hoogesteger on PEF bottles for fresh juices
Avantium N.V., a well-known company in renewable and circular polymer materials, has signed a conditional offtake agreement with Hoogesteger, a leading producer of fresh cold-pressed juices in the Netherlands. Hoogesteger will purchase the 100% plant-based, recyclable polymer PEF (polyetehylene furanoate) from Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant for the use in bottles for its fresh juices made from ultra-fresh vegetables, fruit and fresh herbs.
Avantium’s PEF, branded as releaf, is a 100% plant-based, fully recyclable polymer and offers a renewable and circular packaging solution for Hoogesteger’s fresh cold-pressed juices. Releaf has a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional plastics like PET, glass, or aluminum. In addition, its oxygen barrier is ten times better than PET, which helps extend the shelf life of products.
The PEF bottle for Hoogesteger’s fresh juices will become available at Albert Heijn, the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands, once Avantium’s commercial Flagship Plant is operational. It marks the third PEF-based application for Albert Heijn, following collaborations with Royal Vezet for salad bowls and Refresco for juice bottles. This partnership underscores Avantium’s commitment to sustainable packaging solutions and Hoogesteger’s dedication to delivering high-quality, innovative juices.
“We are pleased to partner with Avantium to introduce PEF-based bottles for our fresh cold-pressed juices. This collaboration aligns with our mission to deliver high-quality, sustainable products to our customers. We believe that these innovative PEF bottles will enhance the freshness and shelf life of our juices while reducing our environmental footprint,” says Charles Arentsen, CEO of Hoogesteger.
Bineke Posthumus, Commercial Director at Avantium, adds: ” We are proud to be expanding our partnership network with Hoogesteger. This agreement highlights the versatility and sustainability of releaf as a packaging material. Together, we can provide Albert Heijn’s consumers with more sustainable choices and drive the transition to a circular economy.”
Avantium is currently starting up the world’s first commercial plant in Delfzijl for 5 kilotons of FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the key component of releaf, with sales under the offtake agreements expected to begin in the second half of 2025. Following this, releaf production is anticipated to be scaled up through technology licensing to plants of 100 kilotons and beyond, enabling large-scale production of FDCA and releaf.