Textile experts Monosuisse and Antex are collaborating with renewable chemistry company Avantium. The purpose of this collaboration is to develop PEF-based yarn, which will be used in Auping-branded mattresses.

PEF stands for polyethylene furanoate and this is a plastic which is 100% plant-based and recyclable. The applications of this product so far, include polyesters and polyurethanes, along with coating resins, plasticisers and finally, a range of other chemical products.

At the moment, Avantium is occupied with building a FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) plant which is based in the Netherlands, specifically Delfzijl. This plant is due to become operational in October of 2024 and it will act as a key building block for PEF.

The drive behind this new collaboration, revolves around the proposal that Avantium will provide Monosuisse and Antex with PEF and from this, the companies will develop PEF-based yarns. The two companies, Monosuisse and Antex will each focus on a specific area within the project. Monosuisse will be dedicated to creating monofilament PEF yarns, whilst simultaneously Antex will supply multifilament PEF yarns. Once this has taken place, the next steps will involve a mattress brand called Auping, who will run tests on the design and manufacturing of mattresses, which include the PEF-based fabric.

This new design for mattresses is a huge step forwards for the greener manufacturing industry and this can be seen in the technology that Avantium is using. Their specific technology is the proprietary YXY technology and this works through using catalysts to convert plant-based sugar (fructose) into FDCA and this goes into producing PEF.

Agreements with this new material are already being made, with a recent agreement being formed with toy brick manufacturer Lego, as well as, Danish brewer Carlsberg.

Director Business Development of Avantium, Bineke Posthumus, commented, “We are proud to collaborate with Auping, Antex, Monosuisse to help build a more sustainable world. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to reducing the environmental impact of textile production. By leveraging Avantium’s breakthrough technology and the collective expertise of our partners, we are poised to transform the textile landscape.”