The planned FDCA flagship plant is set to produce 5 kilotonnes of FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) per annum, the key building block for the 100% fossil-free, recyclable polymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate). Including an additional commitment from one of the previously announced offtake partners, the five conditional offtake agreements represent a total offtake volume of over 50% of the FDCA production capacity from the flagship plant. This marks an important step towards a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) for the construction of the world’s first commercial FDCA plant, which Avantium would plan to open in 2023.
Avantium previously announced that offtake contracts were signed with specialty chemical company Toyobo (Japan), specialty polyester film producer Terphane (US), the beverage bottling company Refresco (Netherlands), and an undisclosed major global food & beverage brand owner. Avantium is also collaborating with beer brewer Carlsberg in the development of PEF based packaging of beer, such as the Green Fibre Bottle. The offtake commitments are subject to a positive FID, financial closing, other customary approvals, and party-specific conditions.
With the secured offtake commitment from Resilux (Belgium), PEF will be broadly introduced to the international market for high-value applications varying from monolayer bottles, multilayer bottles and polyester film products for food & beverage packaging and electronics. In multilayer bottles, PEF can be used as a barrier material in multilayer PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles, leading to improved sustainability and recyclability compared to multilayer bottles with other barrier materials such as nylon.
The ambition of Resilux (1), a specialist in PET packaging and recycling, is to create sustainable PET solutions for better products, healthier people and a cleaner planet. Resilux is convinced that, in its continuous strive for innovation and development, the unique properties of PEF are complementary to recycled PET and will improve the unique position PET already has in the market as a sustainable packaging material. Dirk De Cuyper, CEO of Resilux Group, explains: “With PEF we can continue to prove the power of PET as a safe, sustainable and recyclable packaging material. In combination with our constant focus on the expansion and development of high quality PET recycling solutions, PEF will allow us to offer sustainable solutions in special, high end applications. We are pleased to be one of the first companies that will bring this innovative material to the market as it builds upon the “Design for Recycling” strategy Resilux has for all its products.”
Avantium CEO Tom van Aken comments: “We are delighted with the commitment of Resilux, who represents an important part of the value chain in making PEF packaging available for a range of beverages. We value the support and the close collaboration with such an excellent partner. We believe that the five signed offtake commitments made to date mark an important milestone on our road to the final investment decision for the construction of FDCA flagship plant.”
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(1) Resilux NV specialises in the manufacture and sales of PET recycling, preforms and bottles. These preforms and bottles are used for the packaging of water, soft drinks, edible oils, ketchup, detergents, milk, beer, wine, fruit juices and other applications. As from 1 October 2017, Resilux extended its core business with PET recycling activities, located in Switzerland. Resilux NV is a family business, and was established in 1994. Since 3 October 1997, Resilux NV has been quoted on Euronext Brussels. Resilux NV has production units in Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Greece, Russia, Hungary, Serbia, Romania and in the U.S.
