The company announced an agreement with The Coca-Cola Company to further co-develop Avantium’s YXY technology for producing PEF bottles.
First milestones include the start-up of an Avantium PEF pilot plant, officially opened on 8 December in Geleen, the Netherlands. It is expected that other large co-development partners will join from early 2012.
Avantium’s CEO Tom van Aken, said: “Our YXY solution for the packaging industry creates a new biobased plastic with exceptional functional properties at a competitive price.
“We believe it is economically viable and has a significantly reduced environmental footprint. We have already made bottles with exceptional barrier and thermal properties and our production process fits well with existing supply chains. We plan to initiate commercial production of PEF in about three to four years.”
PEF can be derived from any biomass feedstock containing carbohydrates, such as sugar cane, agricultural residues, plants and grains. Using YXY as a fast and efficient chemical-catalytic technology, these carbohydrates can be converted into a wide variety of bioplastics.
Current process economic estimates indicate that PEF will be a viable alternative to petroleum-based PET. Tom van Aken said: “PEF is 100% bio-based and when commercialised will be fully recyclable.
“We believe that PEF fulfils key criteria to become a next generation bio-based plastic for food, beverages and other applications. We are very excited about the co-development phase we are entering with The Coca-Cola Company to continue the development of PEF and make this new material ready for mass production and recycling.
“Their leadership and experience in commercialising bio-based materials make them a great partner to work with as we commercialise this exciting new material”.
On 8 December, Avantium officially opened its pilot plant in the Netherlands to start up its YXY process at scale. The pilot plant, with a capacity of 40 tonnes per year, produces PEF material for application development. The collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company is key to secure a smooth transition into the mass production phase of PEF bottles.
Avantium is also actively discussing partnerships with other leading brand owners to develop PEF bottles, fibres and film. In the longer-term, Avantium will licence its YXY technology to enable large-scale, worldwide production and use of its bio-based plastic materials.
Source: Advantium
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