In each issue of the Bioplastics Bulletin, we present 5 facts about a member of European Bioplastics. This month, Patrick Schiffers, CEO of Synvina, shares some information on the joint venture between BASF and Avantium with the aim to become the market leader in FDCA and PEF.

Patrick Schiffers, CEO, Synvina

5 facts about Synvina, the Netherlands

  1. Synvina, the Joint Venture of Avantium and BASF, was founded in 2016 and is located in Amsterdam/The Netherlands. Operating a pilot plant in Geleen, the Netherlands, Synvina produces and markets furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from renewable resources on pilot plant scale and markets the new polymer polyethylenefuranoate (PEF).
  2. Synvina aims to build an FDCA-reference plant in the medium term with a capacity of up to 50,000 tons at the BASF Verbund site in Antwerp/Belgium. CEO Patrick Schiffers describes the goals of Synvina: “Our target is to become the market and technology leaders in FDCA and PEF.”
  3. FDCA is a building block for various products. Most significantly the polyester PEF, which is suitable for foil pouches, bottles for carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks, water, dairy products, still and sports drinks and alcoholic beverages as well as personal and home care products.
  4. PEF is a fascinating new material that offers superior characteristics in comparison to conventional plastics. It has improved barrier properties for gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen, leading to a longer shelf life of packaged products. It also offers a higher mechanical strength enabling thinner PEF packaging with fewer resources needed. PEF is 100% bio-based and fully recyclable and thus meets the standards of the circular economy.
  5. After its commercialization, consumers will be able to use PEF packaging comfortably just the way they use conventional packaging materials today. However, there will be one major advantage: Consumers will know for sure that there is not a single drop of oil in bottles and foils produced with PEF.