PEF-based textile prototypes: Avantium partners with Casa da Malha and Lacatoni
Last update on Jul 15, 2026
Sportswear manufacturers face a persistent trade-off. Technical apparel must perform under stress, yet brands increasingly expect recyclable, plant-based inputs. Conventional polyester meets the performance bar. It does not meet the sustainability one, and staying with it keeps that gap open. For textile manufacturers evaluating knitted and technical fabrics, a material that satisfies both requirements at once remains hard to source.
Avantium N.V., a producer of renewable and circular polymer materials, has entered a collaboration with Portuguese textile manufacturer Casa da Malha and sportswear brand Lacatoni to develop and showcase textile prototypes made with PEF (polyethylene furanoate). PEF is Avantium's plant-based polymer, marketed under the brand releaf®, and positioned by the company as a high-performance alternative to conventional polyester.
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Recyclable polyester alternative
According to Avantium, PEF is a plant-based, recyclable polyester alternative made from renewable feedstocks that the company reports combines sustainability with mechanical properties suited to demanding applications. The collaboration explores PEF's potential in textile applications, combining Avantium's renewable polymer technology with Casa da Malha's expertise in knitted fabric construction and Lacatoni's experience in sportswear design and performance apparel.
The partners have developed a series of sportswear and textile prototypes incorporating PEF-based yarns and fabrics. Among the first tangible results is a prototype sports shirt: knitted by Casa da Malha, built for Lacatoni, using PEF-based yarn in place of standard polyester.
Casa da Malha is a Portuguese fabric knitting company specializing in circular knitted fabrics and textile solutions, with a focus on sustainability and material innovation. The company continues to explore next-generation fibers and materials aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of textile products.
The sports shirt prototype is on display at Milano Unica in Milan from July 7–9, 2026, one of Europe's leading textile trade fairs. It forms part of a broader range of textile prototypes that will be presented to brands, manufacturers, industry stakeholders, and consumers to demonstrate PEF's potential in the textile sector.
Lacatoni is a Portuguese sportswear brand and manufacturer that designs and supplies technical apparel, teamwear, and performance clothing for a wide range of sports. With a focus on functionality, performance, and athlete comfort, the company works with sports clubs, federations, and teams in Portugal and internationally.
Inspiring market with new possibilities for sustainable sportswear
Filipa Costa, Innovation & sustainability director of Casa da Malha, said, "This project allows us to work with a novel polymer and to translate its properties into knitted fabric constructions that meet the quality and performance standards expected by apparel brands. We are proud to contribute our textile expertise to this important step in material development."
Belisa Rodrigues, CEO of Lacatoni, added, "Our customers increasingly expect sportswear to combine performance with responsible material choices. Through these prototypes, we can evaluate how next-generation materials such as PEF perform in real apparel applications and help inspire the market with new possibilities for sustainable sportswear."
Laleh Maleki, business development manager at Avantium, said, "We are excited to explore the potential of PEF in textiles together with leading partners across the value chain. Collaborations like this help accelerate the development of new, high-performance applications for renewable materials and bring them closer to commercial adoption."
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Image credits: Avantium