Avantium N.V., a frontrunner in renewable and circular polymer materials, has entered into a conditional offtake agreement with Hoogesteger, a prominent producer of fresh cold-pressed juices in the Netherlands. Hoogesteger will source the 100% plant-based, recyclable polymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate) from Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant for its juice bottles, which are made from ultra-fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs.
Avantium’s PEF, marketed as releaf®, is a fully recyclable, 100% plant-based polymer, providing an innovative and circular packaging solution for Hoogesteger’s fresh cold-pressed juices. Notably, releaf® boasts a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to conventional materials such as PET, glass, or aluminum. Additionally, its oxygen barrier performance is ten times superior to PET, contributing to an extended shelf life for products.
The PEF bottles for Hoogesteger’s fresh juices will soon be available at Albert Heijn, the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands, following the operational launch of Avantium’s commercial Flagship Plant. This represents the third application of PEF-based products at Albert Heijn, succeeding collaborations with Royal Vezet for salad bowls and Refresco for juice bottles. This partnership highlights Avantium’s commitment to sustainable packaging solutions, as well as Hoogesteger’s focus on 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 launching the world’s first commercial plant in Delfzijl, set to produce 5 kilotons of FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the essential component of releaf®. Sales under these offtake agreements are slated to commence in the second half of 2025. Following this, releaf® production is expected to scale up via technology licensing to larger plants producing 100 kilotons and beyond, enabling substantial output of FDCA and releaf®.
