Dutch chemicals technology group Avantium has carved out its Parana bio-polyester technology into an independent company, Parana Materials, based at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen. Parana will lease and operate Avantium's existing polymerisation pilot plant, with Avantium retaining ownership of the installation and a minority stake in the new company. Funding comes from LIOF Participatiefonds, the founders, the Just Transition Fund and the Dutch DEI+ innovation scheme, though amounts were not disclosed.
Why this mattersAvantium narrows its focus to FDCA and PEF while a dedicated vehicle advances renewable polyesters aimed partly at packaging, a common pattern for scaling bio-based material platforms.
- Avantium transfers its Parana polyester technology, IP, projects and a dedicated team into new independent company Parana Materials.
- Parana Materials is based at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen and leases Avantium's existing polymerisation pilot plant, which Avantium continues to own.
- Funding comes from LIOF Participatiefonds, the founders, the Just Transition Fund and the DEI+ Dutch innovation scheme; amounts undisclosed.
- Avantium retains a minority stake in Parana Materials and keeps access to the pilot plant for its own FDCA and PEF technology.
- Former Avantium technology director Gert-Jan Gruter joins Parana Materials as CTO; Willem-Jan Meijer, previously of Avantium and dab.bio, becomes CEO.
- Parana's renewable polyesters, including PISA, PISOX, PEIT and PEIF, target applications in packaging, consumer goods and speciality materials.
- First industrial tests of PISA, PISOX and PEIT/PEIF are planned for 2027, targeting rigid luxury packaging such as bottles
- First kilotonne-scale delivery is planned for 2028, with licensing to partners from 2030
- PISOX, an oxygen-barrier copolyester said to be home-compostable within months and to degrade in seawater, is due to scale production in 2027 and launch from 2029
Klöckner Pentaplast has signed a capacity reservation agreement with Avantium to secure future access to the plant-based polyester PEF, ahead of construction of licensed production plants that do not yet exist. The film maker plans to evaluate the material, branded Releaf, for thermoformed food trays, with no volumes or delivery date disclosed.
Why this mattersA reservation with a not-yet-built supply chain signals early positioning for bio-based PEF in food packaging, but commercial availability remains years away and unconfirmed.
- Klöckner Pentaplast has signed a capacity reservation agreement with Avantium for the plant-based polyester PEF.
- The agreement gives kp access to future PEF volumes from industrial plants that Avantium's licensees are set to build.
- No plants currently exist; Avantium plans to licence its PEF technology to manufacturers globally.
- Avantium has not disclosed the volume or duration of the reservation.
- kp intends to test the material, branded Releaf, in thermoformed food trays for fresh and ready-made food.
- Delivery depends on the material meeting technical, regulatory and commercial requirements, according to Avantium.
Avantium has signed a capacity reservation agreement with Klöckner Pentaplast covering future volumes of Avantium's plant-based PEF polymer, branded releaf, for thermoformed food packaging such as trays and lidding films. The agreement gives kp access to volumes from planned industrial-scale PEF plants to be built by licensees of Avantium's technology, subject to the material meeting technical, regulatory and commercial requirements. No production volumes, prices or binding delivery commitments were disclosed.
Why this mattersReserved volumes from a converter with 27 plants give PEF a demand anchor, though supply depends on licensee plants that have yet to be built.
- Avantium and Klöckner Pentaplast announced the capacity reservation agreement on 14 September 2026
- The agreement covers future releaf (PEF) volumes from prospective industrial-scale plants to be built and operated by licensees of Avantium's technology
- Access to volumes is subject to the material meeting technical, regulatory and commercial requirements
- Target applications are thermoformed food trays, lidding films and flow-wrap structures across Europe
- releaf is made from FDCA, Avantium's flagship molecule, and is positioned on oxygen and carbon dioxide barrier performance
- kp was founded in 1965 and has 27 plants in 16 countries with about 5,000 employees
Avantium has signed a partnership with Japanese plastics trader Sojitz Pla-Net Corporation to promote its plant-based PEF polymer, branded releaf, to Japan's FMCG and packaging sector. The deal, announced 8 September 2026, pairs Avantium's bio-based polymer technology with Sojitz Pla-Net's domestic distribution network. The two companies will co-exhibit at the Sustainable Material Expo in Chiba from 30 September to 2 October 2026.
Why this mattersA local distribution partner lowers the entry barrier for bio-based PEF in Japan, a market central to Asia-Pacific PET-substitution policy.
- Avantium and Sojitz Pla-Net Corporation announced the partnership on 8 September 2026
- Deal covers commercialisation of Avantium's plant-based FDCA and PEF polymer, branded releaf, in Japan
- Sojitz Pla-Net will use its plastics distribution network to reach Japanese FMCG and packaging manufacturers
- PEF is cited as offering roughly 6 times better oxygen barrier and 3 times better water vapour barrier than PET
- The companies will co-exhibit at the Sustainable Material Expo (SUSMA) 2026 in Chiba, Japan, from 30 September to 2 October 2026
- Japan's Plastic Resource Circulation Strategy, set in 2020, targets expanded use of bioplastics
