Avantium N.V., a leader in renewable and circular polymer materials, announces that its innovative releaf plant-based plastic PEF (polyethylene furanoate) has received official approval for recycling within the Japanese PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle stream by the Council for PET Bottle Recycling (CPBR).

Avantium’s releaf PEF was approved by CPBR for PET bottle recycling in Japan. (Source: Avantium)

“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,” said Yuzhong Chen, Business Development Manager Asia of Avantium.

Evaluation on recyclability of releaf PEF

Following a rigorous evaluation process, CPBR has assessed Avantium’s releaf PEF, for use as a barrier layer in multilayer PET bottles.

The CPBR report confirms that the 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.

More about Council for PET Bottle Recycling (CPBR)

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.