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From Plants to Plastics

A collaboration between Releaf x designstudio Hoogvliet Jongerius

Material experiments with Releaf — © David van Dartel

Can plastics be both sustainable and beautiful? Absolutely —when we reduce our reliance on fossil fuel and innovate responsibly. Our collaboration with designers Nienke Hoogvliet and Tim Jongerius showcases how biobased, circular solutions can harmoniously coexist with beauty.

Transforming nature's bounty into a beautiful sustainable mini collection.

Releaf, the brainchild of Avantium, is revolutionizing PET, a ubiquitous plastic found in bottles, packaging, and clothing, with their plant-based PEF technology. Releaf's PEF can be produced from first-generation feedstocks like corn or sugarcane, or more sustainably from second-generation feedstocks such as agricultural waste, making it a promising alternative in our quest for eco-friendly materials.

For this year's Dutch Design Week, Releaf has teamed up with design studio Hoogvliet Jongerius to create an installation that not only highlights the origins and benefits of Releaf’s bioplastic but also underscores the urgent need for eco-friendly alternatives. The installation celebrates both the beauty and the artistic potential of the sustainable material.

The versatile industrial applications of this bioplastic—such as foils, yarns, and sheets—offer endless possibilities for creating unique textures and structures. Inspired by this diversity, the designers have crafted a mini furniture collection, including a cabinet, bench, side table, lamp, vase, and bowls. Each piece is one-of-a-kind, challenging the conventional 'single use' perceptions of plastic.

About Releaf

We are releaf, The fruit of Avantium's relentless innovation, rooted in nature, and designed for tomorrow. Our mission is to transform renewable plants into revolutionary plastics and textiles. We're not just creating products; we're cultivating change. With Releaf's PEF technology, every bottle, container, and fabric becomes a testament to sustainability. 100% plant-based. Fully recyclable. Endlessly renewable. We envision a world where eco-friendly choices are the norm, not the exception.

One step in the process to make Releaf — © David van Dartel

Designers Nienke Hoogvliet and Tim Jongerius — © David van Dartel

Material experiments with Releaf — © David van Dartel

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