Avantium partners to develop PEF-based sportswear prototypes

Avantium N.V., a specialist in renewable and circular polymer materials, has partnered with Portuguese textile manufacturer Casa da Malha and sportswear brand Lacatoni to develop and showcase textile prototypes made using PEF (polyethylene furanoate), its plant-based, high-performance polymer marketed under the releaf brand.

PEF is a recyclable, plant-based alternative to conventional polyester, produced from renewable raw materials. In addition to offering sustainability benefits, the material also provides excellent mechanical properties, making it suitable for a wide range of textile applications.

Together, the partners have developed a collection of sportswear and textile prototypes using PEF-based yarns and fabrics. One of the first outcomes of the collaboration is a prototype sports shirt created by Casa da Malha for Lacatoni, demonstrating the potential of plant-based, recyclable PEF in high-performance sportswear.

Filipa Costa, Innovation and Sustainability Director at Casa da Malha, said, “This project has given us the opportunity to work with an innovative polymer and transform its properties into knitted fabrics that meet the quality and performance standards expected by apparel brands. We are proud to contribute our textile expertise to this important stage of material development.”

Belisa Rodrigues, CEO of Lacatoni, said, “Customers increasingly expect sportswear to combine high performance with more responsible material choices. These prototypes allow us to evaluate how next-generation materials such as PEF perform in real apparel applications while inspiring the market with new possibilities for sustainable sportswear.”