Releaf Turns Urban Fallen Leaves Into Paper and Packaging Fibre

Releaf first thought it would sell fibres directly. It found that customers further down the chain cared mainly about the finished product, so the company shifted to producing paper for converters, which make the final packaging.

Two processes, one waste stream

Releaf uses two technologies. A dry mechanical process creates a filler that can be added in existing paper machines. A chemical and thermal treatment with refining extracts short fibres that behave like cellulose fibres from trees.

Cities already collect leaves and usually compost or incinerate them. Compost has low economic value and can rely on public subsidies, while sand and minerals in leaves can damage boilers. Frechka says working with Releaf could cut municipal disposal costs by at least half. He estimates tens of thousands of tonnes could be available in Paris alone, depending on the collection area.

Because collection is seasonal, Releaf cleans the leaves, compacts them into bales and preserves them, storing about 400 kilograms per cubic metre. Last year it processed about 1,000 tonnes on its pilot line and expects roughly twice that next season.

Partners instead of paper mills

The company keeps its leaf-to-fibre technology in-house but relies on industrial partners to make finished materials, avoiding the heavy capital cost of building mills. It works with several French municipalities, has commitments with German cities, including exploratory work with a partner in Dortmund, and collaborates with three of France's largest paper groups. Uber Eats, Chanel, L'Oréal, Samsung and Rituals have tested its materials.

Frechka argues that a mill's willingness to use the material is itself validation that it works in existing infrastructure.