Her Majesty Queen Máxima to open the world’s first FDCA Flagship Plant

Avantium N.V., a leading company in renewable and circular polymer materials, is honored to announce that Her Majesty Queen Máxima, together with Avantium CEO Tom van Aken, will officiate the opening of Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. This festive event will take place on 22 October 2024, in the presence of approximately 250 guests including Commissioner of the King René Paas and Eemsdelta’s Mayor Ben Visser. The ceremony will feature speeches from Minister of Climate and Green Growth Sophie Hermans and from John Bell, the European Commission’s ‘Healthy Planet’ Director in the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. The event will be hosted by Shirma Rouse, entertainer and chemist. The program will also include a tour of the FDCA Flagship Plant.

Her Majesty Queen Máxima at the opening of Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl © Avantium

The opening of Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl by Her Majesty Queen Máxima signifies an important milestone for Avantium. The event symbolizes the Company’s technological advancements in its pursuit of renewable, circular materials, and acknowledges the dedication and hard work of Avantium’s committed employees and partners. In this world’s first commercial FDCA plant, Avantium will produce FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the main building block for the 100% plant-based and circular polymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate). Avantium has worked for more than 18 years on the development of PEF, first in its laboratories in Amsterdam and since 2011 in its pilot plant in Geleen. The Company has optimized its FDCA/PEF technology and extensively tested the applicability of FDCA and PEF with partners worldwide. PEF bottles and packaging have been produced, as well as PEF fibers for clothing, interior, and industrial applications.

“The opening of our FDCA Flagship Plant represents a significant milestone not only for Avantium and our stakeholders but also for the broader community and industry. I am extremely proud of this incredible achievement. With hard work, stamina and ongoing believe, for almost two decades, we have been able to get to the point where we are today. This event marks the next phase in the commercial launch of PEF, which provides an undeniable, sustainable alternative to traditional plastics. Through our FDCA Flagship Plant we are making PEF available to brands and consumers worldwide and propels the transition to a fossil free chemical industry. We are grateful for the support and collaboration of our partners, investors and employees, whose contributions have been invaluable in achieving this milestone. We are looking forward to welcoming our partners at the Opening Ceremony on 22 October, ” says Tom van Aken, CEO of Avantium.

In addition to the official opening ceremony, Avantium will host a Retail Investor Day on Wednesday 23 October 2024. Retail shareholders are invited for a tour through the FDCA Flagship Plant and participate in various activities throughout the day. Registration for this event is closed.

About Avantium

Avantium is a pioneering commercial-stage company focused on renewable & circular polymer materials. Avantium develops and commercialises innovative technologies for the production of materials based on sustainable carbon feedstocks, i.e. carbon from biomass or carbon from the air (CO₂). The most advanced technology is the YXY^®Technology that catalytically converts plant-based sugars into FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the key building block for the sustainable plastic PEF (polyethylene furanoate). Avantium has successfully demonstrated the YXY^®Technology at its pilot plant in Geleen, the Netherlands, and is currently constructing of the world’s first commercial plant for FDCA. The official opening ceremony for the FDCA Flagship Plant is set on 22 October 2024. Avantium also provides R&D solutions in the field of sustainable chemistry and is the leading provider of advanced catalyst testing technology and services to accelerate catalyst R&D. Avantium works in partnership with like-minded companies around the globe to create revolutionary renewable chemistry solutions from invention to commercial scale.

Avantium’s shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Brussels (symbol: AVTX). Avantium is incorporated in the Euronext Amsterdam SmallCap Index (AScX). Its offices and headquarters are in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.