In the modern world, it’s crucial to care about sustainability especially when it comes to manufacturing. Many people don’t think that 3D printing is sustainable and plastic recyclable. Is it a myth?
There are many materials that can be used for 3D printing, and various manufacturing as well. For at-home or non-industrial 3D printers, it’s reasonable to consider FDM technology, which is when solid plastic is pushed through a heated nozzle and melted drop-by-drop in a given pattern. Normally, this kind of printers uses Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
PLA is a biodegradable thermoplastic made from renewable resources like corn-starch or sugar cane.
While PLA is recyclable, it cannot be recycled with other types of plastics because it has a lower melting temperature that causes problems at recycling centres. This means PLA should not be recycled with your other curbside recycling. Unlike ABS, petroleum-based plastic, PLA is a biodegradable material, which means it can be broken down over time by humidity and bacteria. However, it can be composted rather quickly only in the industrial conditions where a certain level of light, temperature and humidity is kept. Thanks to its non-toxicity, PLA can also be used to 3D print objects that will be in contact with food
When individuals and companies have a lot of 3d printed objects for business or for personal use, they should get a special machine which recycles all the unwanted plastic waste right at the site. This kind of machines grind existing waste and melt it down, so producers can use it feed 3D printers after. That takes recycling to the next reusing level.
3DCompare.com always seeks for manufacturers that take sustainability seriously, use the most advanced filaments and have environmentally friendly production facilities.
We are also proud to say that we provide our customers with rather sustainable alternatives for manufacturing that plastic such as resin, metal, wood and other materials,.which last much longer and leave less waste on manufacturing stage.
When clients use our services, we ensure that the purchase goes as green as possible while providing them with the highest quality and the best price. 3DCompare.com is also glad to have a chat about different techniques and materials to increase awareness and understanding of the service.
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