From fallen leaves to factory floors: How Releaf is making alternative paper commercially viable

Ukrainian-founded, Paris-based Releaf is developing an alternative to conventional wood-based paper by transforming urban fallen leaves into fibres for packaging, paper and other materials. The company is not only a boost for the circular economy but has enabled established paper producers to integrate its materials into existing industrial processes rather than building an entirely new manufacturing ecosystem. I spoke to Valentyn Frechka, founder and CEO of Releaf, to learn more. From scientific breakthrough to commercial reality While many startups have demonstrated that alternative materials work scientifically, commercialisation remains a major obstacle. According to Frechka, success depends on two factors: positioning and proximity to both raw materials and customers. “If you position yourself as a breakthrough company that's going to compete directly with major corporations, you're already putting yourself in a difficult position. These are enormous businesses with establish