Avantium has established a conditional offtake agreement with Hoogesteger, a leading manufacturer of fresh cold-pressed juices in the Netherlands.
Under this agreement, Hoogesteger will source the recyclable, 100% plant-based polymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate) from Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant. This polymer will be utilized for their fresh juices made from ultra-fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Branded as releaf, Avantium’s PEF is a fully recyclable polymer that provides a renewable and circular packaging solution for Hoogesteger’s cold-pressed juices. The company asserts that releaf boasts a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional materials like PET, glass, or aluminum.
Moreover, releaf’s oxygen barrier is ten times superior to that of PET, significantly extending product shelf life.
The PEF bottles for Hoogesteger’s juices will be available at Albert Heijn, the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands, once Avantium’s commercial Flagship Plant becomes operational.
This initiative represents the third PEF-based application for Albert Heijn, following successful collaborations with Royal Vezet for salad bowls and Refresco for juice bottles. This partnership underscores Avantium’s commitment to sustainable packaging solutions while reflecting 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.”
Currently, Avantium is initiating the world’s first commercial plant in Delfzijl for 5 kilotons of FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the essential component of releaf. Sales under these offtake agreements are expected to commence in the second half of 2025. Following this, releaf production is anticipated to scale up through technology licensing to plants reaching 100 kilotons and beyond, facilitating large-scale production of both FDCA and releaf.
