POPULAR TOOLS
WTiN Products
Avantium expands partnership network for bio-based materials
Avantium has joined forces with Rhodia, part of the Solvay Group, to develop a range of new bio-based polyamides for a range of applications including consumer goods, automotive and electronic materials.
This partnership expands on the previously announced development agreement in the field of bio-based engineering plastics between Solvay and Avantium. The companies will explore the market potential of polyamide composition on the basis of Avantium’s YXY technology. Produced from renewable and bio-based feedstock, these compositions are expected to exhibit a superior environmental profile, with applicative performance at competitive cost.
“This collaboration perfectly fits with our strategy to deliver new sustainable products to our markets, and will combine our know-how in polyamides with Avantium's YXY technology to produce building blocks for green materials,” explained Louis Neltner, R&D vice president at Rhodia
The company recently announced an agreement with The Coca-Cola Company to further develop Avantium’s YXY technology for producing PEF bottles. Currently PET is the most widely-used oil-based polyester. Based on the performance of the new PEF material, Avantium believes PEF will become the next-generation biobased polyester.
First milestones include the start-up of an Avantium PEF pilot plant, which has a capacity of 40 tons per year and was officially opened on December 8th in Geleen, the Netherlands.
"Our YXY solution for the packaging industry creates a new bio-based plastic with exceptional functional properties at a competitive price,” said Avantium's CEO Tom van Aken. “We believe it is economically viable and has a significantly reduced environmental footprint. We have already made bottles with exceptional barrier and thermal properties and our production process fits well with existing supply chains. We plan to initiate commercial production of PEF in about three to four years."
The company says it expects that other large co-development partners will join from early 2012.
“PEF is 100% bio-based and when commercialised will be fully recyclable,” said Mr van Aken. “We believe that PEF fulfils key criteria to become a next generation bio-based plastic for food, beverages and other applications. We are very excited about the co-development phase we are entering with The Coca-Cola Company to continue the development of PEF and make this new material ready for mass production and recycling. Their leadership and experience in commercializing bio-based materials make them a great partner to work with as we commercialise this exciting new material.”
The nonwovens and fibre industries are keen to develop renewable materials as substitutes for polypropylene and PET if they can be processed on current equipment and offer the same or improved levels of performance and competitiveness and these new partnerships should help to make this happen.
