Re-Leaf Paper: Paper packaging from fallen leaves
23 Feb 2022 | Re-Leaf Paper
Re-Leaf Paper is a start-up company based in Kyiv, Ukraine, that makes packaging from fallen leaves. PackagingInsights sits down with Re-Leaf co-founder and business development director Alexander Sobolenko to discuss material availability, performance versus conventional paper packaging, cost-competition, scalability potential, and the start-up’s next steps.
This is Natalie Werthem from Packaging Insights.
I'm joined today by Alexander Sobulenko, co-founder and business development director at Relief Paper.
Welcome, Alexander.
Hello, Natalie.
Alexander, what kind of leaves can be used for producing paper bags?
Where do you source them from?
Actually, any leaf is suitable for paper production, no matter if there are leaves of deciduous trees of temperature latitudes or the leaves of tropical plants such as banana or pineapples or even dates.
Since we get leaves from urban ecosystems of cities, we accept it in any color, any shape, humidity, and in a mixture with each other.
So, we are very flexible in terms of resources.
Any leaves from any countries, any types of, so, everything is fine for paper production.
OK.
And does releaf paper have any limitations compared to conventional pulp from trees in terms of functionality, durability, and printability?
I think, only one limitation, since leaves perform the main function of photosynthesis, and this process is limited by seasonality, it is different in structure and amount of cellulose than in the wood.
It is shorter and more fragile.
That's why we can make paper with a density of at least 70 g per square meters, no less.
So, from 70 and up to 300.
I think this is the only one limitation compared to , conventional pulp from trees.
Mhm.
And what about cost competition with other fiber-based materials?
OK, so, from one side, we compete with cellulose paper, and honestly, we cannot provide the same prices as traditional paper, and honestly, we are not trying to do this.
So, we are much higher in price comparing with cellulose paper, but we are 100% sustainable.
So, that means that there are a lot of advantages that relief paper brings to customer compared with cellulose.
The first thing, 78% less CO2 emission during the production.
Secondly, 15 times less water consumption.
Also, we do not, do not use any harmful sulfurs in the production.
And the most important, not any single trees are cutting during the production of our paper.
From the other side, we also compete with different alternative paper, like, paper made from grass, from beetroot, from wheat straw, and any other biomaterials.
So we are on the market of, of this eco packaging and comparing with the companies that produce paper from mentioned materials, so we are, very competitive.
So our price is lower than the lowest price of mentioned companies.
That's why I'm very optimistic regarding the future of relief technology within the market of eco products.
And secondary, I think that cellulose paper is becoming more and more expensive from year.
To year and we have enough capability to decrease our costs step by step.
And some days, a few years later, so we can compete even with cellulose paper.
And what can you tell about Relief Paper's scalability potential and its main markets?
Mhm.
So, I should say that this is a very scalable business.
Some average city can generate around 100k to leaves annually.
Pollen leaves contain up to 42% of fibers.
Leaves are free because they need to be disposed of.
Leaves are quickly recovered and available all year round.
Leaves can be a filler and 100% substitute for the wood.
So production can be launched in any geography where leaves exist.
In northern countries with a lot of forests, we can use needles.
In tropical countries, we can use leaves of bananas and pineapples.
So resources are growing everywhere, as as packaging needed almost everywhere.
And one average recycling and paper factory can produce at least 10,000 tons of paper annually.
So scaling is possible by placing new production facilities in different countries and different continents.
A few words about key markets.
So, in terms of products, there are two key markets for us.
First is the market of paper as raw material.
So this paper is using for wrapping, for packaging, and for paper bags manufacturing.
The second market is corrugated materials, sheets and corrugated boxes.
If to talk about geographical markets, so there are a few most important countries for us like France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, market of Nordic countries, and also markets of the United States and Canada.
OK.
And Alexander, to what extent is your technology commercialized?
Are any brands using relief paper yet?
Mhm.
Currently, we are in the late phase of startup.
We have technology, we have product, we have contracted manufacture, and we have sales within at least 5 months, last months at least.
Current production and sales volumes are around 100 to 150 tons monthly, with capability of 500 tons per month.
And, yes, there are some -known names that buy our products.
Either it's a paper or bags.
Such companies like L'Oreal, Nix, Kihls, Chanel, Valeda, Samsung, Schneider Electric, so all of them have some projects with, with relief, and they are buying some packaging materials for the purposes.
Also, we've been contacted by huge worldwide companies that are exploring our material.
But do not order yet.
OK.
And finally, what are the next steps for your company?
Oh, we have a lot of plans, and next step is our own infrastructure plus, extension.
Our target audience mostly is in the Western and Northern Europe.
And so far, we are not very known in that region and logistics from Ukraine is very expensive.
So our first priority is to open sales representative offices.
In few of key countries for us like France, like United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, and Finland.
And we are looking for active partners in those countries to establish joint venture companies and distribute our products locally.
Secondly, we look forward to build our own recycling and paper production facility in one of the mentioned countries.
The investment is around €10 million and so far, the closest and the most friendly destination looks France.
Our plan is to have at least 4 production facilities in the European Union.
Thirdly, we would like to scale to other continents, North America and Asia.
Some potential partners from Canada and the United States already contacted us for potential partnership and common production.
Later on, we will make research at the markets of Japan, South Korea, and some other Asian countries.
In terms of product portfolio, we will focus more on corrugated materials.
Right now, we are doing pilot run for corrugated boxes made from relief paper.
And also we would like to grow.
Therefore, we are open for different serious collaboration in terms of leaf, recycling and paper manufacturing.
We are sure that there is no necessity to cut trees for paper production because paper can be and must be woodless.
That's our philosophy.
Thank you for your time, Alexander, and for speaking with Packaging Insights today.
