Avantium N.V., a prominent leader in renewable and circular polymer materials, has announced that its groundbreaking plant-based plastic, PEF (polyethylene furanoate), branded as releaf®, has attained official approval for recycling within the Japanese PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle stream by the Council for PET Bottle Recycling (CPBR). This approval allows for the use of releaf®, produced with Avantium’s YXY® Technology, in multilayer PET bottles. Such endorsement marks a significant milestone for the adoption of PEF in Japan’s food and drink packaging sector.
The CPBR serves as the Japanese industry body dedicated to the promotion and evaluation of PET bottle recycling. By setting voluntary design guidelines for PET bottles, CPBR conducts comprehensive evaluations of new materials, ensuring their compatibility with Japan’s advanced recycling systems. Gaining approval from CPBR is crucial for any new material aspiring to enter the Japanese PET bottle recycling stream, thereby maintaining the integrity and efficacy of the nation’s recycling infrastructure.
After an extensive evaluation process, CPBR has reviewed Avantium’s PEF, marketed under the releaf® brand, for its role as a barrier layer in multilayer PET bottles. The CPBR report confirms that PEF can be safely and efficiently recycled within the existing PET stream at concentrations up to 10% weight. Moreover, the material has successfully met key assessments for physical, chemical, and processing criteria while complying with Japan’s Positive List system for food contact plastics, as well as FDA regulations. Notably, the overall recyclability rating for PEF-containing bottles was classified as “A,” indicating full suitability for bottle-to-bottle recycling. This milestone follows similar recognitions in Europe (by the European PET Bottle Platform) and the USA (by the Association of Plastic Recyclers). Such endorsements empower brand owners and converters to confidently integrate PEF as a barrier layer, significantly aiding the beverage industry’s transition to renewable, high-performance, and recyclable food and drink sustainable packaging.
Yuzhong Chen, Business Development Manager Asia of Avantium, stated: “We sincerely thank all the companies in Japan that supported Avantium during the CPBR assessment. Their collaboration was vital in demonstrating that releaf® can be successfully recycled within Japan’s PET bottle stream while preserving high material quality. This joint effort underscores a shared commitment to advancing plant-based, recyclable packaging solutions in Japan.”
