Ukrainian-founded and Paris-based startup Releaf is developing a technology that transforms fallen urban leaves into paper and packaging materials. While conventional paper relies on trees that can take five to ten years to grow, Releaf utilizes seasonal waste that municipalities already collect. Through a combination of dry mechanical processing and chemical-thermal treatments, the company produces materials that behave like tree cellulose and can be directly incorporated into existing paper manufacturing machinery.
According to Founder and CEO Valentyn Frechka, Releaf avoids the massive capital expenditures of building its own paper mills by partnering with established industrial manufacturers. Although the company initially aimed to sell fibers directly, it shifted its business model to produce paper for packaging converters. Last year, Releaf processed about 1,000 tonnes of material on its pilot line and is preparing to handle roughly twice that volume next season. By compacting the leaves into bales, the company can store approximately 400 kilograms of material in a single cubic meter, effectively preserving the biomass from degradation.
Global brands including Uber Eats, Chanel, and L'Oréal have already tested the materials. In September 2026, Releaf announced a partnership with the Italian RDM Group and its Dutch subsidiary Eska to create materials for the premium packaging sector. Frechka suggests that working with Releaf could reduce municipal leaf disposal costs by at least half. Looking ahead, the company aims to expand its material applications beyond paper to include water-resistant coatings, molded products, and bioplastics.