Avantium CEO: Partnerships are vital to commercializing biomaterials and ending fossil fuel reliance

01 Nov 2022 --- Avantium is calling for increased collaborations between industry, scientists and policymakers to boost the availability of biofuel and biomaterials amid the energy crisis. Having begun constructing its flagship plant in the Netherlands this year, the company is highlighting that solutions like its PEF material could relieve economic pressure caused by the Ukraine war.

Speaking to PackagingInsights, Avantium CEO Tom van Aken explains that efforts to establish independent energy supplies must be more than a geographic transition. 

“The energy crisis must lead us to the insight that we look broader than the energy transition: using alternative resources beyond fossil-based materials must become an immediate priority,” he says. 

“Currently, the provision set out by the government for tackling the energy crisis is mainly looking at short-term solutions. It’s now beginning to step back from previous progress made toward a more sustainable future, such as the commitment to Net Zero.”

Van Aken asserts that Avantium’s bioplastic PEF material is an example of how industry can produce circular and renewable products without compromising emissions targets. 

Avantium recently began construction of its flagship plant in the Netherlands.“Blood, sweat and tears”
Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the commitment to remaining within 1.5C temperature increase, part of the Paris Climate Agreement, has come under pressure, with the UN recently announcing there is currently “no credible pathway” to achieving the target. 

“Western governments have made vocal commitments to this reduction. However, there now needs to be tangible action to demonstrate this,” says Van Aken. 

“A shift in mindset must take place – it’s not about dealing with issues as they arise, long-term change needs to be implemented to not only support people with the rise of energy costs, but also to protect the planet and future generations, and to make tangible progress in reducing our dependence on petroleum for making chemicals and materials.”

“Avantium’s technologies can help the world reduce both emissions and its reliance on petroleum-based plastics and materials. It has taken us a decade to reach this point, and it has taken blood, sweat and tears and patience, but we are now at the point of constructing the first commercial-scale plant,” he continues. 

Collaboration and public support 
Part of a long-term solution must include support for new types of materials used in products like packaging.

“This extends to materials that are highly dependent on cheap energy like glass, plastic and bitumen, which not only require large amounts of energy to produce – incredibly expensive at this point in time, and we are already seeing an economic impact of this in the supply chain,” Van Aken says.  

“The production of these materials has a negative impact on the environment. Turning to biomaterials and biofuel will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and protect our ecosystem in the long run.”

PEF can replace fossil fuel-based materials as a renewable and circular alternative, says the company.To make biomaterials commercially viable, Van Aken says it “all comes down to partnership.”

“Our vision of a greener world cannot be achieved alone. Collaboration between businesses, scientists, and policymakers can help incite greater change and better engagement and education with the public on the impact of climate change.” 

“Most importantly, we need individuals to demand this switch from their favorite brands, adopt these alternatives in their daily lives and drive this change from the supermarket aisles and when shopping online.” 

PEF heads to market 
Avantium’s flagship bioplastic – PEF (polyethylene furanoate) – is a 100% plant-based, recyclable and degradable polymer suitable for applications such as packaging, textiles and film. PEF’s oxygen barrier is said to be “10 times better than PET, its CO2 barrier 6 to 10 times better than PET, and PEF’s water barrier twice as good as PET’s.”

“For brand owners, this is the moment to join the journey to a fossil-free economy: the next generation of consumers don’t want to drink beverages in bottles from petroleum, they don’t want their clothes to be made from petroleum, they don’t want to drive around in cars made from petroleum, and they don’t want to sleep on a mattress made from petroleum,” asserts Van Aken. 

The company’s licensing business model will allow it to expand globally, it claims. “We invite partners to come to talk about building FDCA plants around the globe, and we are happy to explore how PEF can be used in new applications.” 

The company is working with a number of major international brand holders such as Carlsberg, LVMH, Sukano and AB inBev. 

“The technology part is done: it is now a matter of building and operating,” says Van Aken. “The markets are clearly ready for this: there is a strong demand.”

By Louis Gore-Langton