TAGS: Sustainability and Bioplastics
Avantium N.V., a technology provider in renewable chemistry, announces that it will partner with PANGAIA, a purpose-driven materials science and apparel company.
Under this partnership, PANGAIA will purchase Avantium’s plant-based and recyclable material PEF (polyethylene furanoate) for use in their apparel collection with the goal of creating fossil-fuel free and recyclable materials and products.
PEF is made from FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), which will be produced in Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant. This world’s first commercial facility for FDCA is currently under construction in Delfzijl (the Netherlands), and large-scale production is set to start in the second half of 2024.
Can Replace Majorly Used PET Fibers
Avantium’s PEF is a 100% plant-based polymer with a wide range of applications such as bottles and packaging, films and textiles. Over the past year, Avantium has increased its focus on the development of PEF for fibers and yarns, which can be used in different applications including fashion. PEF-based fibers can replace PET fiber, which accounted for ~54% of global fiber production in 2021 (60.5 million tonnes).
PEF fits current polyester infrastructure for both production and recycling; presenting a scalable future for renewable alternatives to fossil-fuel derived PET. PEF-based fiber has a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to fossil-fuel based synthetic fibers, and can also be recycled in existing assets.
Consumers are making more and more conscious choices when it comes to their apparel purchases and this offers a promising market opportunity for plant-based alternatives, including PEF.
PANGAIA, a certified B Corporation, brings problem-solving innovations to the world through its premium lifestyle products. As part of its Positive Earth philosophy, PANGAIA is committed to embracing a future where renewable outputs are prioritized, minimizing its reliance on fossil fuels.
Great Potential for Reducing the Fashion Industry's Impact on the Climate
As PANGAIA prioritizes a transition to preferred materials, it sees this development as a significant step towards improving its synthetic portfolio as a brand. PANGAIA Collective comments, “
PANGAIA has a huge emphasis on identifying innovation opportunities that help us replace conventional fossil fuel-based materials with materials that utilize renewable feedstocks. Feedstocks tackle one part of the puzzle however and only by producing these at scale and building into circular business models do they really create impact, which is what Avantium is on a mission to do. By working with Avantium and their PEF material there's incredible scaling potential to utilize PEF across a range of product categories which has led us to this partnership agreement. We look forward to introducing this innovative material once Avantium’s Flagship Plant is operational.”
"
We are pleased to partner with PANGAIA, an innovator in the materials and fashion industry, enabling consumers to wear PEF-based clothing. Together we will demonstrate that PEF-based clothing has great potential to play a key role in reducing the fashion industry's impact on the climate. We look forward to our continued collaboration with such an innovative brand and to supporting PANGAIA's strong sustainability journey in the coming years. It will be truly exciting to see consumers wearing PANGAIA's PEF-based sustainable fashion in the future," said Tom van Aken, CEO of Avantium.
Source: Avantium
