Introducing Releaf Paper: Revolutionizing Sustainability in Paper Production
In a world where environmental concerns continue to take center stage, finding sustainable alternatives to everyday products has become paramount. One such innovation making waves in the paper industry is Releaf Paper. By revolutionizing traditional paper production processes, Releaf Paper offers a solution that is both environmentally friendly and economically viable.
In this comprehensive exploration, we delve into the remarkable benefits of Releaf Paper, exploring its technological advancements and the positive impact it has on our planet. Join us on this journey as we uncover the secrets behind this groundbreaking approach to paper production and examine the challenges it faces in gaining widespread adoption. Together, let’s discover a greener future for one of humanity’s most fundamental materials.
Answers by Valentyn Frechka, CTO of Releaf Paper
- How significant is the potential reduction in CO2 emissions by utilizing Releaf Paper’s technology compared to traditional methods of disposing of yard waste?
Fallen leaves are an annual form of green waste, which is primarily organic matter. During the growing season, the leaves absorb CO2, which is the building material for the tree and the leaves themselves. Also, the leaves contain various tannins, lignin, and sometimes proteins. Taken together, this creates a complex biocomposite that, in an uncontrolled urban ecosystem, cannot simply be left in the open. The main methods of disposal today are composting, methanization, and incineration. However, as I noted, since leaves are a complex complex of organic matter, composting leads to the emission of various types of greenhouse gasses from the decomposition of these substances. Also, composting is a time-consuming process that requires more than 6 months of controlled rotting, and with the volume of tens of thousands of tons of leaves, it is very difficult and inefficient to ensure this process in a controlled manner. We have already faced the case where the company invested in leaf composting, and this process is very slow and inefficient at high volumes. The disadvantage of methanization is that it is a process that does not exclude the factor of gas emissions. During the formation of methane, another type of gas is generated, which is returned to the atmosphere + in a circular economy and sustainable development, it is necessary to avoid using biomaterials to burn them to generate energy. The same with burning leaves.
RELEAF Paper is a kind of segregator that separates leaves into value-added components. We get cellulose from the leaves, which is used to make paper. In the process of obtaining cellulose, lignin is formed, which can be used as a biofertilizer and an agent for biohumus. Tannins are another valuable component of the leaves, which we are currently working on studying, and it is already known that it is a high-quality raw material for the pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors. Against the background of everything, taking into account the very difference between the traditional ways of recycling leaves, we conserve all CO2 in the form of a finished product. If we talk about the impact on the reduction of CO2 in the production of the final product, then this is another -78% of CO2 in comparison with paper manufacturers from other types of raw materials.
- What are the specific advantages of using cellulose-based paper created from green waste over paper derived from wood pulp?
First of all, a product made from fallen leaves is humane because it uses raw materials that do not require energy to grow. That is, no water was used, no pesticides or herbicides, fertilizers, etc. were used to grow the raw materials.
Secondly, the simplicity of production, which allows you to save water and energy resources.
Thirdly, with all the simplicity of the process, we get fibers of decent quality, from which we get paper with strength indicators no worse than wood paper, while not introducing any fillers into the paper.
Fourth, you can reuse this paper in the recycling process, or compost it, and it will decompose in 50-70 days, depending on the conditions.
Fifth, by consuming such packaging, the client directly contributes to the preservation of forests from deforestation, since such paper packaging is completely wood-free.)
- How does Releaf Paper’s technology contribute to forest conservation, and what measures does the company undertake to ensure sustainable sourcing of raw materials?
Releaf Paper technology contributes to the preservation of forests in a direct way – nothing of tree origin is used in our production! On the contrary, by using 2.3 tons of leaves, we save 17 trees. That is, the customer, by buying such paper, supports us with his choice, we continue to produce more such paper and save more trees.
As for the sustainable supply of raw materials, with the increase in capacity and factories, the number of cities involved in the supply of leaves to us will also increase. 1 factory needs an average of 20,000 tons, and one city can generate up to 50,000 tons of leaves, depending on the size of the city’s landscaping. Also in the future, we plan to involve tropical-equatorial countries for the supply of long-fibered leafy lignocellulosic biomass.
- What challenges does Releaf Paper face in terms of raising awareness about their alternative paper source among potential business partners, and how are they addressing these challenges?
First, since this is a new material, we have to explain very deeply that it does not differ in characteristics from the same wood paper. Most consumers understand that paper can only be made from wood, and this has historically been the case, as the wood industry has been the leader for the past 100 years.
Secondly, people are logically used to think that leaves are only in forests, and that is how we collect leaves from forests. However, this is a misconception. Cities with a temperate climate with a large number of municipal parks generate tens of thousands of tons of leaves, which is a raw material for us, since the cities already have established logistics.
Third, cooperation with cities requires a serious level of communication, which often stretches over time, because each city has its own management system for dealing with fallen leaves, so each model of cooperation is very different from one another.
Fourth, there is no proven, unified tool for calculating the potential volume of leaves in a particular city, so we are forced to develop such a method independently, which would include a number of variable values, based on which it would be possible to predict the volume of leaves.
Fifth, developing the topic of paper from fallen leaves, we are forced to balance between constant research and market strategy to be present in the market already and now. Many companies remain forever only scientific projects due to the difficulty of maintaining this balance.
- Could you provide insights into the process employed by Releaf Paper to convert fallen leaves and green waste into cellulose and subsequently into paper? What are the main steps involved?
First we get fallen leaves as raw material from cities. We clean these leaves of debris, grind them and press them into pellets. Thus, we reduce its bulk density, and make a reserve for year-round production.
Next, the RELEAF Paper process is based on an innovative method of obtaining a chemical-thermomechanical fibrous mass from leaves, with the formation of an automated processing line, which consists in ensuring the plasticization of raw materials through the mechanical interaction of leaf particles under conditions of high pressure and temperature with the help of hydrothermal impregnation.
Under such conditions, we get small fibers that are condensed from the flow, washed, pressed, and then paper is made from them.
I note that the pulp production process itself is innovative, the paper production itself is well known.
- In what ways does Releaf Paper ensure the recyclability of their cellulose-based paper, and how does its biodegradation period compare to traditional paper products?
There is no need to say much about the recycling of paper from fallen leaves, since the process of recycling are no different from the processing of wood-based paper. Cellulose has the same properties for processing. The primary fiber from the leaves has a length of 1 to 3 mm and shortens with each processing cycle.
However, if such paper is composted, it will decompose in 50 to 70 days, depending on the conditions. Normal wood paper needs 120+ days.
- Alexander Sobolenko mentions that start-ups and small companies can understand their carbon footprint and make an impact. Could you elaborate on what actions Releaf Paper suggests for such organizations to reduce their environmental footprint?
Currently we estimate that by using leaves in the paper production process, thanks to our method we emit 78% less CO2 compared to creating wood paper. We are currently working on creating an LCA and calculating the footprint taking into account: Acidification potential, Eutrophication potential, freshwater, Ecotoxicity. This data will be available in months.
