Dutch Company Delays Revolutionary Plant-Based Plastic Plant Due to Welding Issues

2026-01-23 green

Delfzijl, Friday, 23 January 2026.
Avantium’s groundbreaking FDCA plant in the Netherlands faces a six-month delay until mid-2026 due to titanium welding problems, adding €7 million in costs. The facility will produce FDCA, a key ingredient for PEF plastic made entirely from plant sugars that outperforms traditional PET in barrier properties. This setback affects Europe’s timeline for scaling renewable plastic alternatives that could transform packaging sustainability across industries.

Technical Challenges Force Timeline Extension

The Amsterdam-based renewable chemistry company announced on January 23, 2026, that construction-related piping issues involving titanium welds have forced a delay in bringing the Delfzijl facility online [1]. The titanium weld remediation will result in an additional €7 million in capital expenditure, according to the company’s latest update [1]. Hero de Jager, interim Chief Operating Officer of Avantium, stated that the company is “taking all necessary measures to ensure a safe, reliable and high-quality start-up of the FDCA Flagship Plant” [1]. With the weld repair program underway and commissioning progressing well across all parts of the plant, Avantium maintains a clear plan to complete start-up by mid-2026, enabling commercial product sales in the second half of 2026 [1].

Revolutionary Technology Promises Sustainable Packaging Future

Avantium’s YXY Technology catalytically converts plant-based sugars into FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), a key building block for PEF (polyethylene furanoate), known commercially as releaf [1]. The company has successfully demonstrated this technology at its pilot plant in Geleen, Netherlands [1]. The Delfzijl facility represents the world’s first commercial plant for FDCA production, marking a crucial milestone in the transition from fossil-fuel-based plastics to renewable alternatives [1]. PEF has received food contact approvals in the European Union, United States, and Japan, and can be recycled within existing PET streams [4], addressing key regulatory and infrastructure concerns that often hinder the adoption of new materials.

Strategic Partnerships Signal Growing Market Confidence

Despite the production delays, Avantium continues to secure strategic partnerships that demonstrate market confidence in its technology. On January 15, 2026, the company entered into a capacity reservation agreement with Packamama, a UK- and Australia-based innovator in sustainable wine packaging [2][6][7][8]. Through this collaboration, Packamama will secure future volumes of releaf from licensed plants using Avantium’s proprietary YXY Technology [2]. Santiago Navarro, CEO and founder of Packamama, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that the company had “been searching for a material that meets our performance standards, sustainability requirements, and consumer expectations” [6]. The partnership is supported by a grant of AUD 1 million (approximately €573,000) awarded to Packamama by the Australian government under the Business Research and Innovation Initiative [8].

Quality Certifications Reinforce Production Readiness

While addressing the welding delays, Avantium demonstrated its commitment to operational excellence by achieving triple ISO certification on January 20, 2026 [5]. The company successfully obtained certification for ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety Management), and ISO 9001 (Quality Management) for the production of intermediate chemicals used in FDCA production at its Delfzijl facility [5]. The comprehensive audit was carried out by DNV, confirming that Avantium’s environmental, safety, and quality management systems meet globally recognized standards [5]. This certification milestone, occurring just three days before the delay announcement, underscores the company’s preparation for commercial operations once technical issues are resolved. The timing suggests that while mechanical challenges have emerged, Avantium’s operational frameworks and safety protocols are firmly established for the scaled production phase expected to begin in the second half of 2026 [1].

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sustainable plastics renewable chemistry