News

Corporate Update

Avantium, LVMH, And Tereos Join Forces To Accelerate Bio-Polymer Revolution

• By  Textile Excellence
• November 04, 2025

Dutch renewable chemistry pioneer Avantium has announced a strategic collaboration with global luxury group LVMH Beauty and French agribusiness major Tereos to scale production of next-generation bio-based polymers aimed at replacing fossil-fuel-derived plastics across the luxury and packaging sectors.

The partnership brings together Avantium’s proprietary YXY® Technology, Tereos’ renewable feedstocks, and LVMH’s brand-scale packaging needs. The collaboration will focus on the commercial development of poly-ethylene furanoate (PEF), a 100% plant-based polymer that offers superior barrier performance, mechanical strength, and recyclability compared to conventional PET.

PEF, produced from fructose derived from agricultural crops, cuts greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70% compared to traditional plastics. Avantium’s flagship facility in Delfzijl, Netherlands, is expected to begin commercial-scale production in 2025, with an annual capacity of 5,000 tons of PEF. This plant marks the world’s first industrial-scale operation using 100% renewable carbon sources for polymer production.

LVMH aims to integrate PEF into its cosmetic and perfume packaging portfolio under brands such as Dior and Guerlain. The company has set an ambitious target to phase out all fossil-based virgin plastics from packaging by 2030. Tereos will supply bio-based feedstock from its sugar-beet processing operations in France, ensuring a fully traceable and low-carbon supply chain.

Industry analysts view this collaboration as a significant step towards decarbonising global material supply chains, especially as the packaging industry generates nearly 141 million tons of plastic waste annually. For the Indian textile and apparel industry, this alliance signals growing opportunities in sustainable materials. India’s bio-based polymer market, estimated at US$ 1.3 billion in 2024, is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 18% through 2032, driven by demand from textiles, packaging, and consumer goods.

Avantium’s partnership model demonstrates how cross-sector alliances can accelerate the transition to circular material economies, combining scientific innovation, agricultural sustainability, and luxury sector leadership. 

The partnership brings together Avantium’s proprietary YXY® Technology, Tereos’ renewable feedstocks, and LVMH’s brand-scale packaging needs. The collaboration will focus on the commercial development of poly-ethylene furanoate (PEF), a 100% plant-based polymer that offers superior barrier performance, mechanical strength, and recyclability compared to conventional PET.