Explore the intersection of design, art and craftsmanship. Harmonious properties of the spiral fyllotaxis pattern have been unraveled with mathematical precision: Fibonacci sequence, symmetry, and the golden ratio are the building blocks for lamp designs, now 3D printed with fully biodegradable PHA.
PHA: The future of circular 3D printing?
Studio BL is committed to using FDM (Fused Deposit Modeling) 3D printing materials that combine high quality with low CO2 impact. Since the studio's inception in 2019, renewable materials have been central to this mission. However, the full life cycle of materials must be considered to truly assess their sustainability. While PLA, a popular choice, is made from renewable sources, it is only biodegradable under industrial conditions, and its recyclability is limited due to material degradation after multiple uses.
In our pursuit of sustainable materials, we discovered a promising material: PHA. PHA is fully biodegradable in various environments, without leaving microplastics behind. Although PHA was first developed in the 1920s, commercial production was delayed until the 1980s due to high costs. Only recently has PHA become available for FDM 3D printing at a price comparable to PLA and PETG.
Are we on the verge of a PHA revolution, given its potential as a true circular material? While PHA holds great promise, what are its broader implications like local production, feedstock source and scalability?
