In 2020, Oleksandr Sobolenko and Valentyn Frechk created a startup project that helps to recycle fallen leaves. The team collected leaves and processed them into "woodless paper product." Initially, the founders did not have their own devices, so they collaborated with various factories in Ukraine. In 2021, the startup was tested: packages for packaging were made from the resulting fog. In 2022, the Ukrainian project Re-Leaf received a development grant from Google and European Union. The EU has allocated companies for the development of €2.5 million.
Now it became known that eco-friendly project from Ukraine will work in France. The company opens its first plant and processes at least 10.000 tons of leaves annually. In 2021, a startup at the first test plant in Ukraine produced 5000 tons per year. In 2022, Ukrainian developers produced 150 tons of paper. This paper is already sold in Europe. He brought the team €165.000 income.
Re-Leaf plans to open 3 more factories in Europe by 2028.
