AVANTIUM RENEWABLE POLYMERS BV

Their core work

Avantium Renewable Polymers is a Dutch SME specializing in bio-based polymer production, particularly polyethylene furanoate (PEF) — a plant-based alternative to PET plastic. They convert biomass-derived feedstocks like FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) into advanced bio-based materials including polyesters, glycols, and di-acids. Their work spans the full biorefinery value chain: from sugar and hemicellulose processing through downstream purification to final polymer products. As part of the broader Avantium technology family, they bring industrial-scale bio-based chemistry expertise to EU research consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Early H2020 participation (2017) covered a broader scope including bio-based resins, fibre-reinforced composites, and recyclable materials for automotive and construction (ECOXY, ReSolve). By 2019, the focus narrowed sharply toward biomass-to-chemicals conversion — specifically hemicellulose processing, sugar purification, and production of glycols and di-acids (VEHICLE, IMPRESS). This trajectory shows a company moving from general bio-based materials R&D toward its core industrial competence: the upstream chemistry that feeds PEF and bio-polyester production.

Avantium Renewable Polymers is consolidating around industrial biorefinery chemistry — future partners should expect deep expertise in converting plant sugars into monomers and polymers, not broad materials science.

How they like to work

ARNP operates almost exclusively as a third-party contributor (5 of 6 project entries), providing specialized technology or materials to larger consortia rather than leading projects. With 66 unique partners across 15 countries, they connect widely but selectively — their role is that of a technology supplier contributing proprietary know-how to projects led by others. This makes them a low-overhead collaboration partner: they deliver specific technical inputs without requiring project management responsibilities.

Extensive European network spanning 66 unique partners across 15 countries, built primarily through the large PEFerence consortium and four other projects. Their reach suggests strong connections in the BBI (Bio-Based Industries) ecosystem across Western and Northern Europe.

What sets them apart

Avantium Renewable Polymers is one of very few European SMEs with hands-on industrial experience in PEF production — the bio-based plastic widely seen as PET's most promising replacement. Their combination of biorefinery chemistry expertise and downstream polymer processing is rare: most bio-based materials companies focus on either feedstock conversion or end-product manufacturing, not both. For consortium builders, they offer a credible industrial partner that can validate bio-based chemical processes at a scale beyond laboratory research.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PEFerence
  Flagship project with EUR 10.8M EC funding — Europe's reference project for scaling PEF production from bio-based feedstocks, where ARNP serves as both participant and third party.
• VEHICLE
  Demonstrates ARNP's move into upstream biomass valorization — converting hemicellulose into glycols and di-acids, diversifying their feedstock-to-product pipeline.
• ECOXY
  Shows ARNP's broader materials capability beyond polymers — contributing to recyclable, self-healing bio-based composites for automotive applications.