Materials engineering firm Releaf has joined forces with Eska, a member of RDM Group, to launch Eska Leaf, a recycled solid board produced using fallen city leaves.

Combining eco-conscious material science with industrial board manufacturing, the new packaging solution transforms urban organic waste into high-end packaging.

Eska Leaf will make its official industry debut at Luxe Pack Monaco, held at the Grimaldi Forum from September 28 to 30, 2026 (Booth RC02).

Transforming urban waste into luxury packaging

Eska Leaf is created by pairing Eska’s premium recycled solid board with a leaf-paper lamination engineered by Releaf. The raw material is sourced directly from fallen leaves swept from the streets of major metropolitan centres, including Paris.

Rather than allowing millions of tonnes of fallen leaves to be incinerated or discarded every autumn, the partnership gives this organic matter a second life. The resulting board retains the natural tactile feel and distinct visual characteristics of raw foliage, giving brand owners a material that connects consumer packaging directly to nature and urban provenance.

Forest conservation, provenance, and consumer trust

The launch of Eska Leaf addresses critical market demands across sustainability, design aesthetics, and brand accountability:

Reducing pressure on forests: by utilising upcycled urban bio-waste as a primary fibre component, Eska Leaf offers a compelling alternative that reduces reliance on virgin wood pulp and pressure on forest ecosystems.

Seasonality and storytelling by design: the distinct grain and natural texture provide luxury brands with a novel way to embody seasonal themes, origin stories, and environmental stewardship directly through their physical packaging.

Meeting consumer expectations: a 2026 European study by Perspectus Global, co-commissioned by RDM Group, revealed that over 50% of Europeans associate packaging and recycling with overall sustainability. Furthermore, 80% stated that the visible use of recycled cartonboard enhances a brand’s perceived environmental responsibility.

Tailored solutions and industrial scale

Beyond its environmental benefits, Eska Leaf showcases the integration of sustainability, customisation, and luxury packaging. Using Eska’s in-house lamination expertise and dedicated laboratory for bespoke board development, brand owners and converters can collaborate to create signature, highly customised packaging materials tailored to their specific products.

“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.”