On July 17, 2025, Leaf Bio and Xinfengming Group formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Tongxiang, Zhejiang Province. Following over two years of in-depth R&D collaboration, the two parties achieved the world’s first large-scale mass production of 100% bio-based PEF polyester filament in the industry.
Zhuang Yaozhong, Chairman of Xinfengming Group, Zhao Chuncai and Yang Jianfei (Vice Presidents, with Yang concurrently serving as Secretary of the Board of Directors), Guan Yongyin, Vice President of Xinfengming; Xu Hai, Chairman and General Manager of Leaf Bio, Luo Zhao, Chief Marketing Officer and General Manager of Hangzhou Leaf Bio, as well as many core team representatives from both enterprises attended the signing ceremony.
Bio-based polyester PEF is a high-molecular polymer synthesized via polycondensation of ethylene glycol and FDCA, a furan-type bio-based aromatic monomer. Among existing mass-produced fully bio-based materials, PEF bears the closest chemical structure resemblance to petroleum-based PET polyester. Apart from its renewable bio-based attribute, PEF fiber boasts outstanding performance in skin friendliness, moisture absorption & quick drying and natural antibacterial properties.
Driven by the commercialization of research outcomes from the University of Science and Technology of China, Leaf Bio’s R&D team has pioneered the development of furan bio-based aromatic monomer FDCA and its derivative PEF polymer since 2010, spearheading the industrialization of furan-series bio-based materials over more than a decade. Building on the solid foundation established by this partnership, Leaf Bio and Xinfengming Group will further deepen collaborative innovation to fuel the green transition of the global textile fiber industry with new-quality productive forces.
