The Czech 3D printer manufacturer Prusa Research has introduced a range of new recycled filaments based on polylactide (PLA). The four color variants use organic waste materials as environmentally friendly pigments.
According to Prusa, the pigments come from waste materials from the food and pharmaceutical industries. For example, grape pomace is recycled for a bordeaux red filament, algae residue for a brown filament and corn waste for a beige filament.
According to the manufacturer, the properties of rPLA Natural Pigments are slightly different to those of conventional PLA filaments. They are more brittle and therefore more suitable for decorative applications. However, they score points with their natural appearance.
According to Prusa Research, it is driving forward the development of sustainable materials. The recycled natural pigment filaments are a further step towards reducing the ecological footprint of 3D printing and demonstrating the potential of the technology.
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