Swiss biochemical company AVA Biochem is adding furan derivative 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) to its product portfolio in order to support the development of bio-based plastics.

At its plant in Muttenz, Switzerland, the company is now producing FDCA from the oxidation of 5 (hydroxymethyl)furfural (5-HMF). The plant, which started operations in February 2014, produces 5-HMF from renewable feedstocks using AVA Biochem’s proprietary hydrothermal processing technology.

FDCA produced from 5-HMF can be used to make bio-based polyethylene furanoate (PEF) and other bio-plastics. AVA Biochem said these materials have a variety of sought-after advantages which will help bio-based plastics boost their share of the billion-dollar packaging market.

The company said producing FCDA from 5-HMF on an industrial scale yielded significant cost advantages, paving the way for competitively priced bio-based packaging in the future.

AVA Biochem’s chief marketing officer Thomas Kläusli said the addition of FDCA was an important milestone for the company. “This will significantly accelerate market development of 100% bio-based plastic packaging based on PEF, a renewable replacement material for polyethylene terephthalate (PET),” he said.

The company will now supply FDCA to companies engaged in the research and development of new products.

According to AVA Biochem, furan derivatives produced from renewable carbohydrates are some of the most important next-generation platform chemicals. In 2004, the US Department of Energy classed FDCA as one of the 12 most important platform chemicals globally.