Eska, Releaf launch packaging board made from fallen leaves

FRANCE – Eska has partnered with materials engineering company Releaf to introduce Eska Leaf, a recycled solid board produced using fallen leaves gathered from city streets including Paris.

Eska Leaf combines recycled solid board from Eska with a leaf-paper lamination developed by Releaf, with the aim of retaining the natural look and feel of the source material. 

The leaves are collected from urban environments and processed for use in board intended for packaging applications. 

Krzysztof Krajewski, chief sustainability and innovation officer at RDM Group, said Eska Leaf showed what was possible when the company combined its fibre expertise with a partner like Releaf, describing a material that reduced pressure on forests, told a story about where it came from and still met the standards customers expected from solid board.

Urban Leaf Waste Becomes Premium Packaging Resource

Releaf co-founder Valentyn Frechka said every autumn, cities collected and discarded millions of tonnes of leaves as waste. 

He explained that the company’s work was about showing this waste could become a valuable material resource. 

He added that partnering with RDM Group and Eska allowed the companies to combine Releaf’s material technology with Eska’s industrial expertise and bring a new class of leaf-based materials into premium packaging. 

The collaboration positions urban leaf collection as an alternative feedstock stream, diverting organic material from disposal while creating distinctive packaging substrates.

Seasonality and Origin Communicate Through Packaging

The material allows brands to reflect seasonality and origin through the packaging itself. 

This capability appeals to premium segments where packaging serves as a storytelling medium and differentiates products on shelf. 

The project also draws on Eska’s in-house lamination work, product customisation options and its ability to develop tailored packaging materials. 

Under the partnership, Releaf’s materials engineering combines with the manufacturing capacity and solid board lamination expertise of RDM Group, giving the venture access to established industrial infrastructure rather than requiring new production facilities.

Forest Pressure and Circular Feedstock Drive Innovation

Eska Leaf addresses growing demand for packaging materials that reduce reliance on virgin wood fibre while maintaining technical performance. 

By sourcing leaves from municipal collection systems, the product diverts organic waste from landfill or incineration and converts it into a value-added substrate. 

For brands navigating tightening sustainability requirements and consumer expectations around material provenance, leaf-based board offers a differentiated option that meets solid board standards while communicating environmental credentials. 

The collaboration reflects broader momentum in packaging innovation, where waste streams previously considered low-value are increasingly engineered into commercial materials capable of serving premium applications.

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