In the world of innovation and scientific development, young talents who can change the future are of particular interest. One such example is the participation of Ukrainian scientists in prestigious competitions that recognize the best technological achievements. This article looks at one such talented participant who has demonstrated high potential in his field and has been shortlisted for the 2024 National Prize.
Inventor Valentyn Frechka
Valentyn Frechka, a 23-year-old inventor, has developed a technology that can produce one ton of pulp from 2.3 tons of fallen leaves, which would otherwise require cutting down 17 trees. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the pulp and paper industry is one of the largest industrial sectors in the world and has a huge impact on the world’s forests. This sector consumes 13-15% of the total volume of wood and uses 33-40% of all industrial wood sold worldwide.
In search of more environmentally friendly solutions for paper production, 23-year-old Ukrainian inventor Valentyn Frechka developed a technology for processing fallen leaves into paper. Frechka has been selected as a finalist for the European Inventor Award 2024 in recognition of his promising work in the field of circular economy and towards the realization of one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He was selected from among more than 550 candidates for this year’s competition.
Releaf Paper – new technologies for processing fallen leaves into paper
It is known that deforestation around the world significantly exacerbates climate change by increasing air pollution, causing loss of biodiversity, and disrupting the water cycle. Global warming also leads to problems such as soil erosion and reduced availability of fresh water. The loss of trees increases the cost of dealing with environmental problems such as flooding.
In 2021, Valentyn Frechka founded Releaf Paper to commercialize the process. The company receives leaves from city councils and uses this potential waste to produce biodegradable and recyclable paper products.
The technology represents a convenient and cost-effective way to manage organic waste in cities, preserve trees, avoid greenhouse gas emissions from leaf decomposition, and offer environmentally friendly packaging alternatives that help reduce waste. Releaf Paper is able to produce one ton of pulp from 2.3 tons of fallen leaves, while 17 trees would otherwise need to be cut down to produce the same amount of pulp.
Releaf Paper uses a patented and innovative technology to process fallen leaves into environmentally friendly paper without sulfates, sulfites or chlorine. The leaves are thoroughly cleaned and chemically and mechanically processed, including shredding and softening with high pressure and steam. This process effectively isolates the fibers, producing a pulp similar to wood pulp, which is then combined with biofillers to create paper rolls for a variety of products such as paper bags, cardboard and corrugated boxes.
Releaf Paper has opened the first plant in Le Mureau, Paris, that converts fallen leaves into eco-friendly paper. The plant will process up to 20,000 tons of leaves annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by 70%. The project is supported by the European Innovation Council with a budget of EUR 3.5 million.
As a result, the company, which has offices in Paris and Kyiv, also recycles some of its waste into fertilizer and then donates it back to the cities. In the future, Frechka aims to work with biological waste from fruit trees, such as leaves from tropical plants such as pineapples, bananas, and yucca, as well as biological waste from agricultural production.
Inspired by the desire to protect nature
Born and raised in the village of Sokyrnytsia, where he was raised by his grandparents, Frechka has been curious about nature and life since he was a young boy. At the age of 16, during a hike in the Carpathians, he had the idea to fight deforestation by recycling fallen leaves, making them a valuable resource for paper production and reducing carbon emissions from decomposition. He became a member of the Minor Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and began his journey to his own invention.
“Releaf is a great example of what happens when experience, inspiration, and knowledge come together at the right time in the right place. Using leaves to produce paper is an opportunity that didn’t exist before, and this was our chance to do something meaningful, realizing that this technology can help future generations while maintaining the viability of the Ukrainian technology ecosystem,” says Valentyn Frechka.
Releaf Paper received support from WWF and Canopy Planet in 2021. Frechka is currently living in France, and together with her partner, she has found a new strategy for expanding the company’s capabilities in Europe. The production of leaf paper is outsourced from Ukraine, and Releaf sells its products in many European countries, with many well-known customers among international brands and consumer goods manufacturers. By using a new technology to solve the problem of vegetable waste in cities and prevent deforestation, Releaf Paper contributes to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: №9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure) and №12 (responsible consumption and production).
The participation of Ukrainian scientists in international awards demonstrates the country’s high scientific competence and innovation potential. Inventors who demonstrate not only creativity but also a focus on solving global environmental problems can become important drivers of change. It is important to support such talents, as their developments have great potential for sustainable development and improved quality of life.
copyright / innovations / intellectual property / patent for invention / technologies
