PEF has been known to Kirin’s R&D team for over a decade. Recognizing its superior barrier properties, higher mechanical strength, and lower processing temperature, Kirin began working with Avantium in 2020 to explore the potential of PEF for its product portfolio. Over the past three years, Avantium and Kirin have engaged in a productive collaboration, working on PEF/PET multilayer applications, PET/PET blending, and PEF monolayer evaluation. These efforts have been directed towards verifying the recyclability, barrier properties, and formability of PEF. The results have been promising. Kirin has therefore now decided to intensify the collaboration with Avantium by broadening PEF evaluation to various type of containers for Kirin group’s products.
Kirin is furthermore providing support to Avantium in their effort to integrate PEF recycling within the current PET stream in Japan, as part of the application process to the Japanese Council for PET Bottle Recycling (CPBR). Avantium has already secured such allowance for PEF in the PET recycling stream in Europe, recognized by the European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP), and in the USA, acknowledged by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR).
