Renewable chemistry company Avantium N.V., has signed an offtake agreement with Denmark’s textile specialist Kvadrat A/S. Kvadrat will purchase polymer PEF, short for polyethylene furanoate, from Avantium’s FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) Flagship Plant, which is currently under construction in Delfzijl, the Netherlands.  Commercial production of the 100% plant-based and fully recyclable material is set to start in 2024.

Source: SustainablePlastics

The collaboration highlights the further potential of PEF across different application areas, including textiles, enabling the commercial launch of PEF and introducing it to everyday life.

Tom van Aken, CEO, Avantium

The offtake agreement will give Kvadrat a head start in creating PEF-based textiles for both commercial and residential interiors.

The Danish textile expert committed last June to transitioning towards a fossil-free future in the textile industry and, among other things, joined the PEF Textile Community to explore the possibilities of the use of PEF yarns in high-quality textiles. Several successful trials later, it decided to secure a supply of PEF by entering into the present offtake agreement, which will now allow Kvadrat continue its efforts to create sustainable and high-performance PEF-based textiles.

’Regenerate Together through Transparency’ sustainability strategy ,the company is focused on the use of renewable materials as the basis for all its products. Our ambition is to lead the sustainability agenda in the textile industry.

Anders Byriel, CEO at Kvadrat said that as part of Kvadrat's

Kvadrat was established in Denmark in 1968 and has deep roots in Scandinavia’s world-famous design tradition. The company produces high-performance design textiles, rugs, window coverings and acoustic solutions for both commercial and residential interiors

We are delighted that Kvadrat has evaluated PEF as a sustainable solution for its high-quality and innovative indoor textile design fabrics. 

Tom van Aken, CEO, Avantium