From leaf fall to ecological packaging
Carrier bags made from fallen leaves: innovative & sustainable
Marisan chooses innovative and sustainable technologies every day. For instance, scientists proved that fallen leaves are better for producing paper than wood. After all, in 2022, a total of some 25.8 million hectares of forest were cut down. The global impact on the environment is immense. In cities, people often just sweep away the fallen leaves. A shame, because pioneer Releaf processes them into sustainable paper ... for our carrier bags, among others!
Paper from leaf fall? What a ... Releaf!
Releaf started from an idea to help the planet. One of the founders, Valentin Frechka, wanted to save the forests where he romped as a child. He assumed that leaves contained enough fibre to make paper. Some tests in the school lab confirmed this. Further research happened and production was soon a reality. Releaf has since collaborated with numerous well-known organisations including WWF, L'Oréal and Samsung.
We, too, are big fans of this ecological idea. Several of our carrier bags are already made from fallen leaves collected and processed by Releaf. After an ingenious production process, the bags are not only high quality, but also 100% responsible.
So aren't leaves part of the ecosystem?
Importantly, Releaf uses purely bio-waste from parks and cities. A different circulation process applies there than in the forest, where leaves regulate themselves. In addition, cities experience nuisance from fallen leaves every autumn. From clogged rain drains - which release pollutants and in turn cause harmful algae and fish mortality - to odour nuisance and high financial costs (for the taxpayer) to remove them ... The volumes are also too large and too expensive to compost even partially.
Cellulose, one of the components of a leaf, decomposes into CO2 and water. Unlike other molecules, it is not a nutrient source and thus unimportant for trees. Releaf only extracts cellulose from leaves for the innovative leaf recycling process. This procedure avoids the felling of millions of trees on an annual basis.
Many advantages
Producing carrier bags with fallen leaves compared to traditional paper production has numerous advantages. For example, there are ...
- 78% less CO2 emissions.
- 15 times less water consumption.
- 3 times less electricity consumption.
From leaf to carrier bag
From the fallen leaf to the finished carrier bag, there are of course several intermediate steps. The leaves are collected from residential areas, cities, parks, pavements ... Releaf removes the solids and dries and granulates the leaves. Those raw materials are stored throughout the year and contribute to a stable production process.
The leaves are then processed into a unique fibre, the basis for paper production. To this, a filler is added. The paper is machine-pressed and rolled. Blank carrier bags are made from this paper, which can later be personalised with a fun quote or a unique handle. The possibilities are endless!
Want to know more?
A nice carrier bag is a powerful marketing tool, especially when it is produced 100% responsibly. Curious about all the possibilities? We will be delighted to make time for you. Contact us via info@marisan.be or +32 9 232 06 16.