The Beauty of PEF: Combining Functionality with Art
Avantium and Studio Hoogvliet Jongerius showcase the versatility and beauty of PEF (Polyethylene Furanoate).
At this year’s Dutch Design Week, Avantium and Studio Hoogvliet Jongerius presented a unique project that explores the aesthetic and practical applications of PEF (Polyethylene Furanoate). Their collaboration highlights Avantium’s plant-based PEF, branded as “Releaf,” and demonstrates how this sustainable material can reshape creative industries.
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Exploring Releaf PEF
Avantium developed Releaf PEF from renewable sources like plants, agricultural residues, and forestry or textile waste. This fully circular bioplastic offers a sustainable alternative to fossil-based material. It comes in multiple forms, such as foil, sheets, yarns, flakes, and granules. Moreover, manufacturers can process it using various techniques, including 3D printing, heating, and needle punching. This opens new doors for innovative applications in both design and art.
Merging Function with Art
Some pieces from the mini furniture collection crafted with Releaf. Courtesy of Studio Hoogvliet Jongerius.
Releaf not only replaces conventional oil-based plastics but also excels in applications that go beyond traditional technical fields. It finds a natural fit in artistic spaces, where its functionality and aesthetic appeal can shine. This project showcases how PEF (Polyethylene Furanoate) can expand the possibilities of sustainable design by blending purpose and beauty.
To highlight PEF’s versatility, the team crafted a mini furniture collection featuring a cabinet, bench, side table, lamp, vase, and bowls. Each piece showcases unique textures and forms, emphasizing the material’s adaptability and beauty.
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Driving the Future of Sustainable Design
This collaboration represents a major step in positioning bioplastics within creative industries. Releaf PEF, known for its technical strengths, now reveals its potential as an artistic medium that redefines sustainable design. By connecting technical and artistic spaces, this project shows how bioplastics like Releaf can unify functionality, beauty, and ecological responsibility.
Attendees at Dutch Design Week responded enthusiastically, recognizing how sustainable materials like PEF can reshape modern design.