On November 6, Dutch PEF producer Avantium announced that it had signed an agreement with Parfums Christian Dior to use the new bioplastic in its packaging.Avantium has been working for three years on applied research with LVMH Recherche, the research center of Dior Perfumes and luxury goods giant LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton). Three years of collaboration in applied research have culminated in the signing of a PEF supply agreement with Parfums Christian Dior, which will be the first brand in the cosmetics industry to use this material in its main packaging. PEF is a biopolymer derived from renewable resources, and Avantium's plant in Delfzijl will begin commercial production in 2025 with a capacity of 5,000 tons per year, marketed under the Releaf brand.
Véronique Courtois, President and CEO of Dior Parfums, commented, “For Dior Parfums, this launch marks a milestone in our commitment to incorporating sustainable materials into our products while maintaining the company's high standards of excellence and sophistication. The partnership with Avantium marks an important step towards more sustainable practices.”
Polyethylene glycol 2,5-furandicarboxylate (PEF) is a biobased (but non-biodegradable) polymer that can be used as an alternative to PET, with superior performance in certain areas such as barrier properties.
