Avantium has inked a conditional offtake agreement with Hoogesteger, one of the top manufacturers of fresh cold-pressed juices in the Netherlands.
Hoogesteger will buy the recyclable, 100% plant-based polymer PEF (polyetehylene furanoate) from Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant for for its fresh juices created from ultra-fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Avantium’s PEF, branded as releaf, is a 100% plant-based, fully recyclable polymer and offers a renewable and circular packaging solution for Hoogesteger’s fresh cold-pressed juices. Releaf has a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional plastics like PET, glass, or aluminium, according to the company.
In addition, its oxygen barrier is ten times better than PET, which helps extend the shelf life of products.
The PEF bottle for Hoogesteger’s fresh juices will become available at Albert Heijn, the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands, once Avantium’s commercial Flagship Plant is operational.
It marks the third PEF-based application for Albert Heijn, following collaborations with Royal Vezet for salad bowls and Refresco for juice bottles. This partnership underscores Avantium’s commitment to sustainable packaging solutions and 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.”
Avantium is currently starting up the world’s first commercial plant in Delfzijl for 5 kilotons of FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the key component of releaf, with sales under the offtake agreements expected to begin in the second half of 2025. Following this, releaf production is anticipated to be scaled up through technology licensing to plants of 100 kilotons and beyond, enabling large-scale production of FDCA and releaf.
