bFRIENDS by Bene is a collection of desktop accessories made from discarded food packaging. Consisting of pen pots, trays and a stand for mobile devices, the collection is 3D-printed from 100 per cent recycled PLA, a cornstarch-derived bioplastic, which is 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.
During the 3D-printing process, by London-based company Batch.Works, the products are built up layer by layer in a single continuous line of bioplastic, rather than being cut away from a larger block or injection moulded. This means no waste is generated and they are manufactured easily on demand, minimising the need for 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: Alex Saringson
