Sustainable 3D printing materials

Polylactic acid (PLA), most often made from corn starch, is probably the most widely used 3D printing material. It is called biodegradable but, in many cases, may not be as most composting facilities are not yet equipped to handle it and consider it a contaminate^[1]. PLA is also often used in manufacturing disposable silverware, composting bags, feminine hygiene products, diapers, etc^[2].

Below are some different materials and composites I've heard of that are some version of a sustainable material. Many use PLA as a base material and so one should remain skeptical about any claims of sustainability.

• Biome3d a starch-based bioplastic being launched, $41 / kg at time of writing
• Wound Up PLA - contains the waste products of coffee roasting. It also smells like coffee when you’re printing
• Entwined Hemp PLA - the hemp byproduct just contributes color this PLA
• Stonefil pottery clay filament, PLA base $118 / kg
• Algix Alga algae with PLA base $34.99 / kg
• Algix Omni a PLA based "ABS alternative" $39.99 / kg (provides tensile strength rating but not flexural - seems sus as the kids say 🤨)
• Treed Pneumatique used tire filament