In the Netherlands, juice maker Hoogesteger has signed a conditional offtake agreement for polyethylene furanoate biopolymer produced by Avantium.
PEF has an oxygen barrier far better than polyethylene terephthalate, the petrochemical currently used in many bottling applications. PEF also maintains its mechanical strength at thinner extrusions than PET. This means the switch to PEF will boost the shelf life of Hoogesteger’s cold-pressed juices and allow it to use less material in each bottle. PEF is also recyclable.
“This collaboration aligns with our mission to deliver high-quality, sustainable products to our customers. We believe that these innovative PEF bottles will enhance the freshness and shelf life of our juices while reducing our environmental footprint,” Charles Arentsen, CEO of Hoogesteger, told Packaging World.