Santiago Navarro, CEO (left) and Keely Pakes, innovation executive, at Packamama. Image courtesy Packamama
Sustainable wine packaging company Packamama has partnered with Avantium N.V., a leader in renewable and circular polymer materials, entering into a capacity reservation agreement. Through this collaboration, Packamama will secure future volumes of Avantium’s plant-based and recyclable polymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate), branded as releaf®, from licensed plants using Avantium’s proprietary YXY® Technology for the production of releaf®. By combining Avantium’s material with Packamama’s expertise in lower emissions wine bottles, the partnership aims to accelerate the development of next-generation, low-carbon packaging solutions for the wine industry.
Packamama bottles are currently made from 100% recycled PET (rPET), supporting circularity and sustainability in the wine sector.
With the introduction of releaf®, Packamama said it aims to take sustainable innovation in wine packaging to another level. Releaf® offers a unique sustainability advantage: it is plant-based, recyclable, and delivers a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional materials such as glass or conventional, virgin plastics. Beyond its environmental benefits, releaf® also provides barrier properties that protect wine quality.
“Packamama is delighted to partner with Avantium to bring the plant-based polymer releaf® into our wine bottle solutions,” said Santiago Navarro, CEO and founder at Packamama. “We have been searching for a material that meets our performance standards and sustainability requirements, and is made from plants. We believe that releaf® offers a unique combination of high performance, environmental responsibility, and appealing consumer messaging.”
Bineke Posthumus, commercial director at Avantium, with customer wine in Packamama bottle
Bineke Posthumus, commercial director at Avantium, said that Packamama’s “innovative approach” to wine packaging and its commitment to sustainability makes them “an ideal partner” for Avantium.
“Their decision to test and adopt releaf® is a strong endorsement of our material’s potential to transform to iconic, premium packaging applications,” said Posthumus. “We look forward to working closely with Packamama to drive meaningful progress in sustainable packaging.”
To support this development, Packamama has secured an AU$1 million grant from the Australian government. This grant, which Avantium supported, was awarded under the Business Research and Innovation Initiative (BRII), provided to support Packamama’s efforts to decarbonize Australian wine packaging. This international recognition and governmental support underscore the growing global interest in sustainable wine packaging solutions.
Are you a Daily Wine News subscriber? If not, click here to join our mailing list. It’s free!
Dining and Cooking