Practice What We Preach
My motivation comes from seeing the large amount of 3D-print waste generated at work and knowing that the standard practice for handling the 3D print waste is simply to throw it away. The failed prints and discarded support structures accumulated over the years represent not only environmental impact but also lost resources. As more students engage with digital fabrication, I see a growing need to approach my teaching in a way that is both sustainable and creative.
The filament we print with in Camberwell is Polylactic Acid, PLA. Under the right condition, it is a compostable material and is a comparatively eco-friendly plastic to print with because it’s a sugar cane/ corn starch derivative. However, without proper facilities to recycle or repurpose the filament waste, these plastic bits are just like any other thousand-years-non-degradable PETG bottles in the landfill (or in the oceans).
I’m hoping that this project will provide students with hands-on experience on circular economy principles while reducing the environmental footprint of their learning. Universities are increasingly incorporating sustainable 3D printing practices into their curricula, it is of paramount importance that students engage with innovative design processes while understanding the environmental implications of their work. For UAL, implementing circular economy principles where materials are continuously reused demonstrates UAL’s integrity. The message is that rather than just broadcasting UAL as a sustainable and environmental friendly university, UAL actually takes action to be one. Within the UK art and design sector, this addresses a critical gap, the most commonly used filaments cannot be recycled via local borough council recycling programme, making institutional recycling systems essential for sustainable practice.
“The use of waste powder and discarded 3D printing components is a key element of a functional and efficient circular economy.” — Paul Victor Osswald, Project Manager for Predevelopment Non-Metals at the BMW Group.
References
FormFutura. (2025). Is recycling the best solution for 3D printing scraps? [online] Available at: https://www.formfutura.com/blog/blogs-1/is-recycling-the-best-solution-for-3d-printing-scraps-35.
Pawel Ślusarczyk (2024). Is home recycling the answer to color 3D printing waste? [online] VoxelMatters – The heart of additive manufacturing. Available at: https://www.voxelmatters.com/is-home-recycling-the-answer-to-color-3d-printing-waste/.
Wakefield, E. (2025). BMW Group enhances recycling for 3D printing material production. [online] VoxelMatters – The heart of additive manufacturing. Available at: https://www.voxelmatters.com/bmw-group-enhances-recycling-for-3d-printing-material-production/ [Accessed 22 Oct. 2025].