Materials

Filaret is Recycling Cigarette Butts Into 3D Printing Filaments

fiFilaret, an Estonian startup that makes sustainable 3D printing materials, is working with the Estonian government to turn cigarettes discarded on the country’s beaches into filament. According to local authorities in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, cigarette butts are o

Filaret is Recycling Cigarette Butts Into 3D Printing Filaments
3Dnatives

fiFilaret, an Estonian startup that makes sustainable 3D printing materials, is working with the Estonian government to turn cigarettes discarded on the country’s beaches into filament. According to local authorities in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, cigarette butts are one of the most common types of waste in the Baltic Sea. Since one cigarette butt can pollute up to 1,000 liters of water, the sea is filled with toxic and non-biodegradable products. Additionally, cigarette filters can release toxins which persist for 10 years, posing an event greater threat to the marine environment.

To combat this threat to marine biodiversity, specially designed garbage cans for cigarette butts will be installed along some of Tallinn’s beaches. This month, about twenty bins will be placed in three specific locations, the beaches of Stroomi and Pikakari as well as the quay of Katariina. The authorities encourage the public to throw away their cigarettes and avoid polluting their beach. This project will last for 2 months. At the end of the project, Filaret will empty these garbage cans, and then convert all the collected waste into a new compostable and environmentally friendly 3D printing material.

Filaret

These bins will be placed in several beaches of Tallinn (photo credits: FIlaret)

Filaret Seeks to Disrupt the 3D Printing Material Industry

For the moment, no information has been given on the manufacturing process of these filament butts. Also, it is not known whether the final material will be suitable for prototyping or production purposes. However, Filaret says it has set the bar high, claiming that it will represent a new standard of innovative material, capable of “disrupting the 3D printing industry.” The company is supported by a number of organizations, including Tallinn University of Technology and the startup incubator Tehnopol. In fact, the latter has shown its support with financial assistance of up to €10,000, as well as mentoring to help turn ideas that can improve “the health of the planet” into reality. More information HERE.