Avantium has signed a capacity reservation agreement with global packaging leader Klöckner Pentaplast (kp), a move set to provide food and drink brands with a clear pathway to next-generation, sustainable thermoformed packaging.

The partnership centres around the exploration and future commercial deployment of Avantium’s plant-based polymer, PEF (polyethylene furanoate), marketed under the brand name releaf.

For food manufacturers and brands, this agreement signals a significant step forward in the transition toward renewable, circular materials. Derived entirely from plant-based feedstocks, releaf offers a lower carbon footprint that can directly support brands in achieving their corporate sustainability and emission-reduction targets.

Beyond its environmental credentials, the material brings tangible functional benefits to the food and beverage industry. Releaf possesses superior oxygen and carbon dioxide barrier properties, which are critical for protecting fresh and prepared foods. For brands, this translates into the potential for extended product shelf life, ensuring quality is maintained for longer periods while actively contributing to the reduction of food waste. These advanced barrier characteristics are currently being evaluated for rigid food trays as well as flexible applications, such as lidding films and flow-wrap structures.

Furthermore, the introduction of PEF aims to overcome existing recycling challenges. The polymer provides a viable alternative to the complex, multi-layer trays that are traditionally difficult to recycle, empowering brands to design packaging structures specifically optimised for end-of-life recyclability.

By signing this agreement, Klöckner Pentaplast is securing access to future volumes of releaf from Avantium’s prospective industrial-scale licensed facilities. This strategic move not only accelerates the ongoing evaluation of the material’s technical and commercial viability but also lays the groundwork for its commercial rollout across Europe. For brands, this ensures that high-performance, plant-based packaging solutions are actively being developed to meet the rigorous demands of large-scale, mass-market food production.