Federal Minister of Economics Katherine Reiche Visits LEIPA in Schwedt

In a joint discussion with the minister, Antonio Bellante, CEO of the LEIPA Group, and Managing Partner Robin Huesmann spoke about the economic and regulatory challenges, as well as the opportunities, facing the paper and packaging industry in Germany. The discussion focused in particular on international competitiveness, high energy and transformation costs, and the requirements of industrial decarbonization.

“We were very pleased with Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche’s keen interest in our site and the open discussion regarding the challenges facing the paper industry. Energy-intensive recycling industries like LEIPA play a particularly important role in industrial value creation, the circular economy, and decarbonization in Germany. Together with our partners, we are actively driving forward innovative future-oriented projects such as Brandenburg eSAF in Schwedt.” - Antonio Bellante, CEO of the LEIPA Group

During the visit, Federal Minister Reiche toured the impressive paper production facility. Using the PM 5—a paper machine designed to produce corrugated base paper for the packaging industry—as an example, she gained insights into modern recycled paper production and the importance of the Schwedt site for sustainable industrial value creation.

The delegation then visited the startup Rement, one of the winners of the first Schwedt Startup Challenge. The company is developing a single-material recycling process to recover valuable raw materials such as limestone and sand from demolition concrete. For the pilot project, a container module was erected on the LEIPA factory grounds to test its use under real industrial conditions.

The final item on the agenda took the group to the Startup Lab Schwedt in the Reallabor. There, Natura Materia—also a winner of the first Startup Challenge—presented innovative paper-based insulated packaging as an alternative to plastic and composite materials. The startup benefits from LEIPA’s infrastructure and recycling expertise as an experienced industrial partner.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche: “The visit to Leipa clearly demonstrated how industrial transformation, the circular economy, and innovation can work together in Schwedt. Through modern recycling processes, investments in sustainable technologies, and support for innovative startups, companies like Leipa are making an important contribution to Germany’s competitiveness and future viability as an industrial hub.”