Photo courtesy of Releaf Paper

Autumn is a time of change, when summer temperatures are replaced by chilly winds, short sleeves are swapped for sweaters, and leaves transform into an array of inspirational colors.

But, as it turns out, those very same eye-catching leaves may hold the key to a recycling revolution—one spurred on by the company Releaf Paper, the world’s first manufacturer of paper from fallen leaves.

The teen behind the tech

One of the more recent global scientific initiatives has been how to be more responsible with the earth’s resources, including the millions of acres that are deforested worldwide for paper production alone. That was the challenge that led then-sixteen-year-old Ukrainian biotechnologist Valentyn Frechka to mull whether sources besides trees could be used to create paper. Eventually, he landed on a unique alternative: fallen leaves.

After some trial and error, he finally experienced his “eureka!” moment in 2018 when he made paper castings from fallen leaf fibers. Inspired, he pushed the concept even further by cofounding Releaf Paper with entrepreneur and company CEO Alexander Sobolenko. (Frechka also serves as chief technology officer.) After six years of research and development, Releaf Paper perfected its scientifically proven, patented, award-winning technology; last year, it opened its first large-scale leaf-processing pilot production near Paris, where Frechka had relocated in 2022.

Its products

Releaf Paper says it’s currently the only company in the world that uses leaves to produce packaging materials on an industrial scale. One of its core products is Releaf kraft paper, which packaging companies use in their own manufacturing. But perhaps most exciting are the ready-made packaging solutions Releaf offers brands and retailers, including bags and boxes as well as customization; it counts L’Oréal, Samsung, and Chanel among its partners.

The impact

It’s estimated that an average European city collects 8,000 tons of leaves a year; some of this is used in other eco-friendly practices like composting. But thanks to Releaf Paper’s innovation, the leaves in these places can reportedly be converted into more than two million tons of pulp annually—saving approximately thirty-four million trees. The company also says that each of its paper and packaging items has no effect on the environment because of its recycling process, which uses significantly less carbon dioxide and water than other manufacturers.

Turning the page

Now that this spark has ignited, the possibilities are virtually endless. For instance, the materials Releaf produces can be used for a variety of applications, such as cardboard, containerboard, injection-molded containers, and bioplastics. The company isn’t content to rest on its laurels, either, as it continually seeks out-of-the-box ways to use its technology to recycle other readily available raw materials, including grapes and flower stems.

Within the next decade, Releaf Paper aims to expand its production to every continent, including North America. So the next time you’re strolling down a tree-lined road admiring the cascading leaves in autumn, remember the possibilities that exist within each one.

For more info, visit releaf-paper.com