Food packaging from fallen leaves will be produced by a Ukrainian startup in France
The Ukrainian eco-startup Releaf Paper, which has developed a unique technology for making packaging from fallen leaves, plans to launch a plant in France with a processing capacity of 10,000 tons of raw materials per year by the end of 2024, writes SEEDS.
After that, the startup plans to acquire at least three other plants in Europe over the next five years.
“Currently, our only investor is the European Commission, but later this year we will attract more leading investors,” Alexander Sobolenko, CEO and co-founder of the company, told Foodbev media.
In 2020, Releaf Paper was founded by a student from Transcarpathia, Valentin Frechko, who developed the very technology for creating cellulose from leaves. The startup already has strong customers, including Loreal, Chanel, Weleda, Kiehl's, Schneider Electric and Samsung. Also, the packaging of fallen leaves fully complies with the standards of the food industry, it can pack food and drinks.
“We recycle leaves and other green waste collected from the streets by city utilities into pulp and paper for the packaging industry. By doing this, we are replacing virgin paper with an environmentally friendly alternative, preventing deforestation and helping cities recycle seasonal green waste,” notes Sobolenko.
In 2022, Releaf Paper became the winner of the EIC Accelerator 2022 program from the European Commission and received a €2.5 million grant to build a production line. The total cost of building the factory was €3.5 million, so an additional €1 million had to be raised from a French bank. The implementation of the project began in 2023.
In addition, the startup received recommendations for further investment from the European Commission for two more factories totaling at least €8 million. They must be approved separately.