RDM Group’s Eska has joined forces with Releaf Paper to launch Eska Leaf, a recycled solid board made from fallen leaves, as a luxury packaging solution.
In an effort to replace fossil-based and materials with a circular alternative, Releaf converts leaves collected from the streets of major cities into ‘high-performance’ packaging products.
Now Eksa Leaf combines Eska’s recycled solid board with Releaf’s leaf-paper lamination – a move set to maintain the raw material’s natural appearance and texture. Each board is expected to offer a unique look and feel.
Research co-commissioned by RDM Group and conducted by Perspectus Global found that 80% of consumers would perceive a brand as more environmentally responsible if it visibly used recycled cartonboard in its packaging.
Through Eska Leaf, RDM Group and Releaf Paper seek to combine sustainability, luxury and personalization in a recycled carton format, help the packaging industry reduce pressure on forests, and prevent the raw material of fallen leaves from going to waste.
Eska Leaf is also anticipated to help customers showcase their commitment to sustainability in a ‘novel’ way, tap into the seasonal imagery of autumn through the packaging itself, and signal the pack’s provenance to consumers.
The material brings together Releaf’s material science and RDM Group’s manufacturing scale and experience in laminating solid board.
Eska also offers in-house lamination processes, customization possibilities and ‘premium’ tactility. Its dedicated laboratory allows brand owners and converters to request a bespoke and personalized board for their brand.
“Sustainability and circularity are built into our mission,” said Krzysztof Krajewski, chief Sustainability and Innovation officer at RDM Group. “Eska Leaf shows what’s possible when we combine our fibre expertise with a partner like Releaf: a material that reduces pressure on forests, tells a story about where it comes from and still meets the standards our customers expect from solid board.”
“Every autumn, cities collect and discard millions of tonnes of leaves as waste,” added Valentyn Frechka, co-founder of Releaf. “Our work is about showing that this waste can become a valuable material resource.
“Partnering with RDM Group and Eska allows us to combine Releaf’s material technology with Eska’s industrial expertise and bring a new class of leaf-based materials into premium packaging.”
Eska Leaf will be displayed on Eska’s booth (Booth RC02) at Luxe Pack Monaco on 28 – 30 September at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco.
In other news, Releaf Paper previously participated in Uber’s Paris Innovation Pilot, offering its paper bags made from fallen leaves to local restaurants. The initiative was expected to help foodservice providers reduce waste and carbon emissions.
Since then, Z1RO has used fallen leaves, hemp hurds and other non-wood biomass to manufacture moulded fibre packaging – intending to combine functional performance with a ‘premium’ tactile experience.
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