bFRIENDS by BeneThis collection of accessories for desktops is made from discarded food packaging. The collection includes pen pots and trays as well as a stand for mobile phones. It is 3D printed from 100% recycled PLA, a cornstarch derivative bioplastic, and diverted from landfill. At the end of the products’ lives, they can be returned to the company to be recycled again – or put in household recycling.
3D printing is done by Batch.Works, a London-based company. The products are built layer by layer in one continuous line of bioplastic. This means that there is no waste generated and they can be manufactured quickly on demand, reducing storage space.
Batch.Works’ print facilities are also wind-powered, meaning that production is energy-efficient, keeping carbon emissions during production close to zero.
“Using 3D-printed post-consumer bioplastic fits into the new models of production and consumption that we all need to embrace,” says Luke Pearson, from Pearson Lloyd, the design company behind bFRIENDS. Prices range between €15 and €59 (£12.80–£50).
Image by Alex Saringson
