Weekly

Pilot plant for paper made from leaves goes into operation

19 November 2024

Releaf Paper is setting new standards for sustainable packaging with the commissioning of the world's first production line based on fallen leaves in Les Mureaux, France. The plant marks a step towards a circular economy and utilises existing raw materials.

Releaf Paper has set itself the task of producing packaging from fallen leaves and has inaugurated its first pilot production plant and innovation centre in Les Mureaux, Île-de-France. The plant, which was co-financed with 3.5 million euros from the European Innovation Council, processes up to 20,000 tonnes of leaves from green spaces in Paris into pulp every year. This serves as the basis for sustainable packaging materials and enables the local utilisation of urban green waste.

‘By producing fibres from fallen leaves, we not only offer the packaging industry an alternative material, but also tap into the potential of urban green waste. Our technology is designed to work with different types of raw materials, from urban leaves to agricultural by-products, which allows us to adapt our methods to local resources and significantly reduce the environmental footprint of traditional paper production.’ - Valentyn Frechka, Head of the Technology Department at Releaf Paper

The innovative technology combines mechanical and thermochemical methods to produce high-quality fibres for applications such as containerboard, packaging and potential bioplastics. According to Releaf Paper, pilot production has a number of environmental benefits: it reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 70 per cent compared to conventional paper production and requires minimal water consumption. The proximity of the raw materials to the production site also minimises transport costs.

As part of a pilot project, Releaf Paper is already supplying packaging for Uber Eats in Paris. The aim is to replace single-use plastic with recyclable packaging. By 2030, the company plans to open further production sites in Europe and expand the model internationally.

‘This is more than just a factory - it's a statement that a city's waste can be an important resource. By converting fallen leaves into pulp, we are proving that sustainable materials can be sourced locally, are of high quality and are scalable. Our pilot plant here in France is just the beginning; we want to change the way the world thinks about waste and create a truly circular economy in the process.’ - Alexander Sobolenko, CEO of Releaf Paper.

Source: Packaging-Journal