At just 16 years old, Valentyn Frechka was hiking in the Carpathian Mountains when he had an idea that would reshape the paper industry. Now 24, the Ukrainian scientist has turned that idea into an award-winning innovation—creating biodegradable, recyclable paper from fallen leaves. His method can turn 2.3 tonnes of leaves into a tonne of cellulose, sparing as many as 17 trees from the chopping block in the process.
Frechka’s startup collects leaf waste from cities, using a chemical-free process to create high-quality paper for bags, boxes, and packaging. Leftover materials are repurposed into fertilizer and returned to communities. Recognized as one of 2025’s top cellulose fiber innovations, Frechka’s approach is already helping global brands meet sustainability goals. Next, he hopes to turn agricultural byproducts like banana and pineapple leaves into paper too—proving that when it comes to waste, nature always has more to give.