PEF bottles show 88% reduction in GHG emissions compared to PET: Avantium's LCA
Last update on Jun 5, 2026
Reducing the environmental footprint of plastics while maintaining performance and compatibility with existing recycling systems remains a key challenge for packaging developers. Avantium N.V. has announced the results of an updated Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of its plant-based polymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate), branded as releaf®, showing greenhouse gas emission reductions of up to 88% in 500 mL beverage bottle applications compared to conventional PET under representative European conditions.
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Driven by replacement of fossil carbon with renewable carbon
According to the company, emissions at the resin level can be reduced by up to 71%1, with further reductions expected as feedstock, production processes, and energy inputs continue to improve. The updated LCA was conducted with nova-Institut and Tereos using industrial data representative of future industrial production. The results were peer-reviewed, follow internationally recognized ISO standards, and were generated within the European Commission-funded PEFerence project2.
The results demonstrate that a significant reduction in the environmental footprint of plastics can be achieved while maintaining performance and compatibility with existing recycling systems.
The work was carried out within the European Commission‑funded PEFerence project. The findings have been published in the peer‑reviewed scientific study “Life Cycle Assessment of an Emerging, Innovative Biopolymer: Poly(ethylene furanoate)”, and provide a comprehensive assessment of releaf® across the full life cycle, from biomass production to end‑of‑life, including recycling. Both cradle-to-gate and cradle-to-grave approaches were analyzed, covering feedstock cultivation, conversion into chemical intermediates, polymer production, packaging applications, recycling, and energy recovery.
The study shows that the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is primarily driven by the replacement of fossil carbon with renewable carbon derived from plant‑based feedstocks. As part of the natural carbon cycle, carbon dioxide absorbed during plant growth offsets emissions later in the life cycle. In addition, releaf®’s improved material properties enable lighter packaging designs, further reducing environmental impact across production and transport. The highest reductions are achieved in monolayer PEF bottles, enabled by lower material use and a fundamentally different carbon balance. In addition, multilayer PEF/PET solutions outperform conventional PET/PA bottles, offering lower emissions and improved recyclability.
The analysis also highlights that renewable carbon and recycling are complementary approaches. Recycling reduces demand for virgin material, while renewable carbon reduces the impact of that material. Combined, these approaches enable deeper reductions in the overall carbon footprint of plastics.
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.”
1 This includes biogenic carbon uptake.
2 PEFerence has received funding from the Bio‑based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement no. 744409). The JU received support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and Bio‑based Industries Consortium.