In a significant leap forward for sustainable packaging, Avantium has announced that its PET/PEF multilayer bottle has been officially validated as fully recyclable within the PET stream by RecyClass, Europe’s premier authority on plastics circularity. This approval marks a crucial step in aligning advanced material innovation with real-world recycling infrastructure.
Avantium’s releaf®a branded version of PEF (polyethylene furanoate) has long been celebrated for its superior barrier properties and renewable origins. Now, its role in multilayer PET bottles positions it as a sustainable and scalable alternative to conventional barrier layers like nylon, which pose challenges in PET recycling.
Unlike nylon, which disrupts the PET recycling process, PEF shares structural similarities with PET, making it an ideal partner in multilayer packaging. RecyClass’ rigorous lab evaluations—conducted by PTI-Europe and Plastics Forming Enterprises confirmed that bottles with up to 10% PEF content (releaf® RP90N) are fully compatible with existing PET recycling streams.
This recognition comes on the heels of Avantium’s APR Critical Guidance Recognition in 2023, creating a unified front of approval both in Europe and the United States. Together, these validations empower brand owners and converters to embrace PEF as a reliable, sustainable solution for maintaining product shelf life without compromising recyclability.
But the benefits go beyond performance. The RecyClass validation also strengthens Avantium’s positioning with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks key to determining eco-modulated fees based on packaging recyclability. In an era where environmental accountability is driving packaging decisions, this approval gives producers a competitive edge.
Ingrid Goumans, Director of Public Affairs at Avantium, summarizes it best:
“This recognition by RecyClass clearly demonstrates that PEF can be successfully integrated into the PET recycling stream. The PET/PEF multilayer bottle opens new possibilities for sustainable packaging and gives brand owners the confidence to adopt PEF as a functional barrier layer in their PET applications.”
With this breakthrough, Avantium is not only pushing material science forward but also aligning with the circular economy’s future where high-performance packaging doesn’t come at the cost of sustainability.