Avantium N.V., a company focused on renewable and circular polymer materials, has entered into a collaboration with Dutch technical textile knitting company and interliner automation plant Heynen Systems B.V. to explore applications of plant-based polymer PEF in the bedding and upholstery industry. The polymer is marketed by Avantium under the brand name releaf®.
Under the collaboration, Tricover®, a brand of Heynen Systems, developed a prototype cushion incorporating releaf®. The prototype is intended to demonstrate the material’s potential use in comfort foam applications and will be displayed during the Interzum Forum Italy event taking place on 4–5 June 2026 in Bergamo, Italy.
Heynen Systems B.V. has been active in the comfort foam industry for more than 40 years, offering system solutions for manufacturers and end users. The company’s business-to-business technologies are designed to automate foam encapsulation processes and reduce manufacturing costs. Its systems are also aimed at reducing abrasion between comfort foam and outer covers to extend product lifespan. Heynen Systems’ technologies are used by international brands including IKEA and Tempur.
According to the companies, the collaboration is focused on prototyping and evaluating the use of releaf® in automated foam encapsulation systems. The project also examines how the material may contribute to performance and sustainability objectives.
“At Heynen Systems, we continuously explore new materials and technologies that support our customers and enable further development in our field. Innovation has been central to the company since its inception, as reflected in several EU patents registered by our founder, Chris Heijnen,” said Gabriela Caraman, Communication and Sustainability Adviser. “This collaboration allows us to experiment with releaf® and explore how we can further reduce environmental impact while remaining competitive. We are pleased to share this first prototype cushion made with releaf® with our customers and to start the conversation on circular products ‘Made in Europe’.”
“Exploring new application areas is essential as we scale releaf®,” added Laleh Maleki, Business Development Manager at Avantium. “Working with Tricover® allows us to bring our material into direct contact with real-life applications in bedding and upholstery. This prototype is a valuable step to learn, test, and inspire the industry with what’s possible using our plant-based material PEF.”