While walking through the forest with his grandfather, Ukrainian high school student Valentyn Frechka posed a simple question: Can paper come from leaves instead of entire trees?

A few years of experimentation and several awards later, Frechka patented his process and founded the RE-Leaf Paper Company, where he creates environmentally friendly packaging, cardboard, and non-printable paper from the fiber extracted from fallen leaves.

As of 2020, RE-Leaf is processing 20,000 tons of leaves a year, and is planning to export the innovative technique across the globe, encouraging traditional paper companies to replace their use of felled trees with fallen leaves instead.

Imagine planting and preserving a forest to make paper and a profit, all while helping the planet for generations to come.

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