According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the pulp and paper industry, which makes products such as office and catalog paper, glossy paper, tissue, and paper-based packaging, accounts for 13-15% of total wood consumption and uses between 33-40% of all industrial wood traded globally.
The traditional paper production process also consumes vast quantities of water and energy, leaving a substantial environmental footprint.
Releaf Paper, a startup from Ukraine, is tackling this global problem with a revolutionary approach to the paper industry. They recycle plant waste into valuable raw materials, offering an alternative solution to virgin fibers in paper production, with the main focus on fallen leaves that serve as an alternative to traditional wood pulp.
“The average city collects at least 8,000 tons of leaves annually, and the total potential of Europe exceeds 1 million tons only from urban areas,“ Releaf Paper states.
Meet Releaf Paper
Founded in 2021 in Ukraine by businessman Oleksandr Sobolenko and Valentyn Frechka, a biotechnologist, the startup began as a research project with the goal of creating high-quality paper from fallen leaves.
In 2022, Releaf Paper was awarded $100,000 EUR in funding and mentorship from Google as part of the Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund.
After that, the startup opened a new office in Lyon, France, and established their own production capabilities. That same year, they won the European Commission’s EIC Accelerator program, where they were granted $2.5 million EUR to finance their project.
In 2023, they were recognized as Ukraine’s most-known green startup in the world.
Here are some of Releaf Paper’s main products:
- Fiber made from fallen leaves, offered to paper mills as an alternative to virgin fibers.
- Paper rolls made from leaf fibers, supplied to converters for various applications.
- Kraft liner made from a mixture of leaf fibers and recycled fibers, used for packaging applications.
- Paper bags made from Releaf Paper, available in various sizes and customizable options with a current monthly production capacity of 3,000,000 bags.
- Corrugated boxes made from Releaf Paper, suitable for delivery, eCommerce, and product packaging
- Ecommerce mailers made from Releaf Paper, used for retail and eCommerce delivery.
The following graphic illustrates the environmental impact of Releaf Paper compared to traditional paper production processes:
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How Releaf Paper Works
Unlike traditional paper production that relies on wood pulp, Releaf Paper has developed a unique process to use fallen leaves. These leaves are collected from urban ecosystems that are done by municipal services or private companies on behalf of cities.
We can see the whole process in four easy steps:
- Leaves transportation: the startup received leaves from municipal services.
- Pre-treatment: cleaning of the leaves from solid compounds, washing and drying.
- Treatment: using mechanical and/or thermo-mechanical treatment on special industrial equipment where green mass is turned into raw materials with paper-forming properties.
- Paper Production: paper production is based on contracted paper mills where paper can be produced from Releaf Fiber alone or with the addition of waste paper or virgin pulp.
The main benefits of Releaf Paper’s leave-based packaging are:
- Renewability: Made from fibers of quickly renewable fallen leaves.
- Forest Friendliness: By using fallen leaves, Releaf Paper eliminates the need for wood pulp, helping to conserve forests.
- CO2 Saving: Production of Releaf Paper generates just 0.066 kg of CO2 per kg, significantly reducing its environmental impact.
- Recyclability: Releaf Paper products seamlessly integrate into the standard paper waste recycling stream.
Looking ahead: industry change
One of the most compelling aspects of Releaf Paper’s solution is its readily available raw material. Cities worldwide generate millions of tons of fallen leaves each year, essentially an renewable endless supply waiting to be harnessed.
This abundance, combined with their production process, positions Releaf Paper as the forefront solution with the potential to dramatically reduce the environmental impact of paper production.
Furthermore, the growing consumer demand for sustainable products perfectly aligns with Releaf Paper’s mission. Major brands and retailers are actively seeking eco-conscious alternatives for packaging and paper goods, and some of their current partners include Samsung, LVMH, and Channel.
As Releaf Paper expands its reach and forms strategic partnerships throughout the supply chain, their influence could have a ripple effect across the industry. Inspiring a shift towards more circular and regenerative practices, transforming the often disregarded fallen leaf into a valuable resource.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: Pixabay.
