Avantium signs capacity reservation agreement with Biovox

Avantium, a Netherlands-based renewable and circular polymer materials company, has signed a capacity reservation agreement with Biovox, a German sustainable healthcare plastics provider.

Under this agreement, Biovox has committed to using Avantium's polyethylene furanoate (PEF) product in various pharmaceutical applications. The PEF is expected to be produced in a future industrial-scale facility, based on a technology license from Avantium. The multiyear capacity reservation ensures Biovox preferred access to PEF volumes produced by Avantium's future licensee network. 

“We are pleased to partner with Avantium and secure access to their innovative PEF material for our customers’ pharmaceutical, medical and laboratory applications," Biovox CEO Julian Lotz says. "This agreement aligns perfectly with our commitment to remain the leading innovator of healthcare plastics with best-in-class sustainability and highest patient safety.  We look forward to leveraging this cutting-edge material to address demanding critical applications, where renewable polymers have not been able to deliver yet. We can even deliver significant performance advantages over currently used materials which helps to reduce material use further.”

As a supplier of medical grade renewable polymers and compounds, Biovox has evaluated the use of PEF for a variety of pharmaceutical and medical applications. The company says that PEF-based pharmaceutical packaging offers significant environmental benefits compared to traditional petrochemical-based materials, aligning with the increasing demand for sustainable solutions in the pharmaceutical industry.  

According to Avantium, PEF is a 100 percent plant-based, high-performance polymer that can be recycled in existing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling streams and has a lower carbon footprint than PET. The company also says that PEF-based packaging has superior barrier properties and provides strong mechanical properties, ensuring that the packaging maintains its integrity and effectiveness over time. Avantium claims PEF-based packaging also exhibits good chemical resistance, which is important for materials exposed to various environmental conditions. 

, says, “This collaboration with Biovox marks a significant milestone for Avantium, showcasing the versatility of FDCA and PEF in the pharmaceutical sector," says Bineke Posthumus, commercial director of Avantium Renewable Polymers. "With PEF from future licensed plants, we are able to offer Biovox a high-performance, environmentally friendly solution that meets the stringent demands of pharmaceutical packaging. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of PEF in Biovox’s applications."