Plastic of the future meets contemporary art
Based around the theme of "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life" EXPO 2015 in Milan focuses on vital issues affecting the future of our planet. Austria is represented at the world exhibition with various offerings, such as the exhibition "Energy for Life – Austrian Innovation and Creativity for a Better World" from 26 June to 5 July 2015 at the Triennale Design Museum. Taking on an artistic concept, the exhibition portrays key examples of the Austrian technological and design landscape. At the invitation of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Alpla is taking part in the exhibition with its plastic bottles made from the innovative material PEF.
"For Alpla, as a specialist in packaging solutions, sustainability and the use of materials made from renewable resources are some of the most fundamental bases for the next generations. We have a responsibility to drive innovation in this area," says Alpla CEO Günther Lehner.
PEF (polyethylene furanoate) is made from 100% plant-based materials. The YXY-process technology used to produce the material was created by the Dutch company Avantium. The research carried out has shown that PEF bottles have superior properties compared to other plastic bottles.
It has an exceptional gas barrier (e.g., 10 times higher barrier properties for oxygen compared to PET). Together with its higher strength this enables the development of thinner and lighter bottles. In addition, PEF is more heat-resistant and it can also be processed at lower temperatures. With these superior properties it has the potential to prolong the shelve life of certain food products and beverages. This 100% biobased and 100% recycleable new polymer is expected to be the packaging material of the future.
