Leaf Bio has achieved a significant regulatory breakthrough in China for its plant-based plastic alternative, marking progress in the commercialization of sustainable packaging materials.
The company announced that its PEF (polyethylene furanoate) material has completed China’s national food-contact safety evaluation. The material will be included under GB 4806.7, the standard governing food contact plastic materials and articles in China. This approval establishes a regulatory framework for using PEF in food packaging applications within the country.
PEF is derived from plant-based sources and is positioned as an alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Leaf Bio has spent over a decade developing the material, focusing on purity standards and safety protocols required for food-contact use.
The company reports achieving 99.99% purity at industrial scale for FDCA, a key component in PEF production. Leaf Bio emphasized its quality control processes, particularly regarding trace impurities that could affect food safety. The material has undergone testing for monomer migration and non-intentionally added substances screening to meet regulatory requirements.
China’s food-contact material regulations are among the strictest globally. Achieving compliance demonstrates that the material meets rigorous safety benchmarks for consumer products.
The approval represents a step toward broader market acceptance of bio-based materials in regulated applications where safety standards are paramount. For Leaf Bio, the milestone validates years of research and development investment in sustainable material science.
As consumer demand for environmentally conscious packaging grows, regulatory approvals in major markets like China are essential for scaling production and commercial adoption. The company positions this achievement as evidence that plant-based alternatives can meet the technical and safety standards required for mainstream use in food packaging systems.
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