Every autumn, millions of people worldwide rake fallen leaves off their lawns. While many individuals compost theirs, most others cram them into plastic bags to be carted off to landfill sites. A young Ukrainian scientist named Valentyn Frechka has discovered a better use for them. He has invented a method of transforming annual leaf litter into paper instead. Frechka won second place for the 2024 Young Inventors Prize for his sustainable paper-making innovation, and he has since established a startup company named Releaf.
He and his team hope to help combat deforestation and water pollution with their sustainable approach to creating paper products.
How the Current Pulp and Paper Industry Affects the Environment
Most people use several different pulp and paper products on a daily basis, without giving much thought to their origins. Note papers, bathroom tissue, paper towels, and books are just a few items that we engage with constantly, but there are countless others. An astonishing number of trees are cut down to fuel this industry on an annual basis. In fact, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), this industry uses between 33 and 40 percent of all the wood traded globally, and approximately 15 percent of wood consumption worldwide.
Over 70 percent of wild animals, birds, and plants live in wooded areas. As such, this level of deforestation and habitat loss is devastating to their future survival.
This industry doesn’t just damage trees. It uses approximately 4 percent of global energy, and uses an astonishing amount of water in its processes. For example, one ton of paper uses between 20,000 and 60,000 liters of water, depending on its manufacturing process.
Considering the number of devastating water shortages and droughts happening worldwide, this type of water usage and wastage isn’t just unsustainable: it’s inexcusable. Furthermore, the effluent from paper processing plants release chlorine and other heavy metals into nearby waterways. This pollution has contributed directly to loss of species diversity, as well as major global issues such as the coral reef bleaching and die-offs we’re currently witnessing.
Related Article: Why Leaving Fallen Leaves on Your Lawn is so Vital for Healthy Ecosystems
How Releaf may Revolutionize Paper-Making Worldwide
With the approach that Frechka has discovered, we have the opportunity to transform leaf waste into paper instead of cutting down more trees. Leaves are a completely renewable resource, since trees drop them every single year.
According to their European Grant Agreement, Releaf’s processing method reduces CO2 emissions by 78 percent, compared to current paper production methods. Furthermore, it uses sustainable, eco-friendly methods throughout its production process. For example:
- It only uses reagents that are free from sulphate and sulphite
- Their process uses 3x less electricity and 15x less water than traditional methods
- Their finished products can be recycled up to five times without losing integrity or paper quality
- Paper products decompose fully within 30 to 60 days
As an added bonus, the finished paper products are significantly cheaper for consumers than standard items. This is due to the fact that they’re created from a natural waste product, rather than trees that require shipping and industrial processing. With any luck, other manufacturers will follow their example and choose sustainable methods for their own products.
Releaf Paper Products are now available for the public to buy! Bags, notebooks, loose sheets, and wrapping paper are all available on their international storefront.
There is no “planet B”. Let’s all do our part to choose sustainable items and make the world a healthier place for all the species that exist here.
Featured image courtesy of Releaf’s Facebook Page, ©Releaf PAPER, 2022