Avantium and Packamama sign deal to scale Releaf for next‑generation wine packaging

Avantium has signed a capacity reservation agreement with sustainable wine‑packaging specialist Packamama, securing future volumes of its plant‑based polymer Releaf (PEF) for use in the company’s next wave of low‑carbon wine bottles.

The agreement ensures Packamama access to Releaf produced at licensed plants using Avantium’s proprietary YXY Technology, marking a significant step toward commercialising bio‑based, fully recyclable alternatives to traditional wine packaging.

Packamama, which operates in the UK and Australia, is known for its lightweight, shatterproof, flat‑pack bottle design – a format that reduces emissions through lower material use and improved logistics efficiency. Its current bottles are made from 100% rPET; the introduction of Releaf represents a major material upgrade for the business.

Releaf offers a plant‑based, circular alternative to both glass and virgin plastics, delivering a substantially lower carbon footprint and enhanced barrier performance – critical for protecting wine quality. The material’s combination of sustainability credentials and functional performance positions it as a strong contender for premium, future‑focused wine packaging.

Packamama’s adoption of Releaf is supported by a AU$1 million Australian government BRII grant, awarded to accelerate decarbonisation in the country’s wine‑packaging sector. Avantium supported the grant application, underscoring the strategic alignment between the two companies.

“Releaf meets the performance and sustainability standards we’ve been searching for,” said Santiago Navarro, CEO and founder of Packamama. “It offers high performance, environmental responsibility and strong consumer appeal – exactly what’s needed to shift wine packaging into a lower‑carbon future.”

Bineke Posthumus, commercial director at Avantium, added: “Packamama’s innovative approach makes them an ideal partner. Their decision to test and adopt Releaf is a strong endorsement of its potential for iconic, premium packaging applications.”

The partnership strengthens momentum behind bio‑based polymers in the beverage sector and signals growing industry appetite for scalable, lower‑emission packaging solutions that go beyond rPET.

Image: Santiago Navarro, CEO (left) and Keely Pakes, innovation executive, at Packamama