Avantium, a major player in renewable and circular polymer materials, has unveiled updated Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results for its plant-based polymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate), marketed as releaf. 

 

And the numbers point to a dramatic potential cut in emissions across packaging.

 

The assessment shows that releaf can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 88% in 500 mL beverage bottle applications compared to conventional PET under representative European conditions. 

 

At resin level, emissions fall by up to 71%, with further improvements expected as feedstocks, production processes, and energy inputs evolve. The findings suggest major reductions in plastic’s environmental footprint are possible without sacrificing performance or compatibility with existing recycling systems.

 

Conducted with nova-Institut and Tereos, the study uses industrial data intended to reflect future large-scale production. It has been peer-reviewed, follows ISO standards, and was completed under the European Commission-funded PEFerence project. 

 

According to the analysis, the emissions advantage is largely driven by replacing fossil-based carbon with renewable carbon from plant feedstocks. As plants absorb CO₂ during growth, this biogenic carbon helps offset emissions later in the product’s lifecycle. 

 

The study also highlights design benefits: releaf enables lighter packaging, which reduces both production and transport emissions. 

 

The strongest gains appear in monolayer PEF bottles, while multilayer PEF/PET formats also outperform conventional PET/PA alternatives, with lower emissions and improved recyclability.

 

The report emphasizes that recycling and renewable carbon are not competing strategies but complementary ones—one reducing virgin material demand, the other lowering the impact of what remains. Together, they amplify total emissions reductions across plastics systems.

 

Ed de Jong, VP Development at Avantium, said: “The updated LCA provides a robust, science-based assessment of the environmental performance of releaf and supports its potential contribution to reducing emissions in plastics, at a time when dependence on fossil feedstocks is increasingly under pressure.”