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Avantium N.V., a company in renewable and circular polymer materials, announces the signing of a capacity reservation agreement with BIOVOX, a distributor in sustainable healthcare plastics. Under this agreement, BIOVOX has committed to using Avantium's PEF (polyethylene furanoate) in various pharmaceutical applications. This PEF is expected to be produced in a future industrial-scale facility, based on a technology license from Avantium. The multi-year capacity reservation ensures BIOVOX preferred access to PEF volumes produced by Avantium's future licensee network.
Avantium has developed a proprietary process to produce FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the key building block for PEF, branded as releaf. Following the completion of the world’s first commercial FDCA plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands, in October 2024, Avantium has commenced the start-up of the plant. This FDCA Flagship Plant is beneficial to Avantium's YXY Technology licensing strategy, enabling the Company to offer technology licenses to industrial partners and develop projects to produce FDCA and PEF on an industrial scale across the globe. Commercial demand for PEF is a crucial factor in licensing discussions. Over the past year, Avantium has signed multi-year capacity reservation agreements. The agreement with BIOVOX further demonstrates Avantium's ability to meet the commercial demand for FDCA and PEF effectively.
BIOVOX—as a supplier of medical grade renewable polymers and compounds—has evaluated the use of PEF for a variety of pharmaceutical and medical applications. PEF-based pharmaceutical packaging offers environmental benefits compared to traditional petrochemical-based materials, aligning with the increasing demand for sustainable solutions in the pharmaceutical industry. PEF is a 100% plant-based, high-performance polymer that can be recycled in existing PET (polyethylene terephthalate) recycling streams, and has a lower carbon footprint than PET. PEF also offers performance advantages over current monomaterial solutions made from PVC, PET or PP. PEF-based packaging has improved barrier properties, which are crucial for protecting pharmaceutical products. Furthermore, PEF provides strong mechanical properties, ensuring that the packaging maintains its integrity and effectiveness over time. Additionally, PEF-based packaging exhibits good chemical resistance, which is important for materials exposed to various environmental conditions.
Dr. Julian Lotz, CEO of BIOVOX, says: “We are pleased to partner with Avantium and secure access to their innovative PEF material for our customers’ pharmaceutical, medical and laboratory applications. This agreement aligns perfectly with our commitment to remain the leading innovator of healthcare plastics with best-in-class sustainability and highest patient safety. We look forward to leveraging this cutting-edge material to address demanding critical applications, where renewable polymers have not been able to deliver yet. We can even deliver significant performance advantages over currently used materials which helps to reduce material use further.”
“This collaboration with BIOVOX marks a significant milestone for Avantium, showcasing the versatility of FDCA and PEF in the pharmaceutical sector," says Bineke Posthumus, Commercial Director of Avantium Renewable Polymers. "With PEF from future licensed plants, we are able to offer BIOVOX a high-performance, environmentally friendly solution that meets the stringent demands of pharmaceutical packaging. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of PEF in BIOVOX's applications."
