Avantium’s plant-based plastic PEF Releaf® receives CPBR approval for recycling in Japan

Avantium N.V., a leader in renewable and circular polymer materials, announced that its innovative plant-based plastic PEF (polyethylene furanoate), branded as releaf^®, has received official approval for recycling within the Japanese PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle stream by the Council for PET Bottle Recycling (CPBR). Avantium earned the approval for the use of releaf^®, produced with Avantium’s YXY^® Technology, in a multilayer PET bottle. This approval represents an important condition for the adoption of PEF in Japan’s beverage packaging industry. 

CPBR is the Japanese industry body responsible for promoting and evaluating the recycling of PET bottles. CPBR sets voluntary design guidelines for PET bottles and conducts thorough evaluations of new materials to ensure compatibility with Japan’s advanced recycling systems. Approval from CPBR is essential for any new material to be accepted into the Japanese PET bottle recycling stream, helping maintain the integrity and efficiency of the country’s recycling infrastructure. 

Following a rigorous evaluation process, CPBR has assessed Avantium’s PEF, marketed under the releaf^® brand, for use as a barrier layer in multilayer PET bottles. The CPBR report confirms that PEF can be safely and effectively recycled within the existing PET stream at concentrations up to 10% weight. The material met key tests for physical, chemical, and processability criteria, and complies with Japan’s Positive List system for food contact plastics, the Standards and Criteria for Foods and Additives issued by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, as well as FDA regulations. The overall recyclability rating for PEF-containing bottles was ranked “A”, indicating full suitability for bottle-to-bottle recycling. The CPBR approval in Japan follows similar recycling recognitions in Europe (by the European PET Bottle Platform) and the USA (by the Association of Plastic Recyclers). These endorsements empower brand owners and converters to confidently adopt PEF as a barrier layer, supporting the beverage industry’s transition to renewable, high-performance, and recyclable packaging. 

Yuzhong Chen, Business Development Manager Asia of Avantium, said: “We sincerely thank all the companies in Japan that supported Avantium during the CPBR assessment. Their collaboration was vital in demonstrating that releaf^® can be successfully recycled within Japan’s PET bottle stream while preserving high material quality. This joint effort underscores a shared commitment to advancing plant-based, recyclable packaging solutions in Japan.”