menu

Italian City Implements 3D Printed Benches Made From Recycled Plastic

Published on April 7, 2022 by Clemens M.
3D printed recycled benches

In recent years, more and more environmentally friendly projects are being developed in many countries all around the world. Similar to earlier successful projects, like for example the Netherlands-based Print your City, R3direct from Italy is now also starting to use additive manufacturing as an eco-friendly option to develop street furniture. By using plastic waste as their main material and with the help of modern technology, the company is now 3D printing benches. And the first example of this is already installed in the heart of Lucca, Italy. Called USE (Urban Safety Everyday), these benches are intended to show that technologies can make it possible to significantly reduce plastic waste by reusing the recycled material.

The material used to shape and produce the furniture originates from used and recycled Tetra Pak cartons. Though you may not have heard of these, you have almost certainly seen them. They  are commonly known for being used as containers for milk or juice for everyday use. Every USE bench also features a QR code, from which the journey taken by the plastic used in the bench can be retraced. The interesting and unusual design of every bench is the work of Stefano Giovacchini, the co-founder of R3direct.

Photo Credits: R3direct

Recycled Plastic Benches

Noteworthy not just for its sustainable properties but also for its original and complex shape, the USE bench was designed using the benefits of additive manufacturing. While the company has not yet revealed the exact technology used for production, R3direct did state that no fewer than 3,300 Tetra Pak packages were needed to make the application. R3direct adds that, despite their unconventional shape, which probably doesn’t appeal to everyone, USE benches can be installed in all kinds of places, such as parks, gardens and of course in cities.

As more and more projects combining recycling and additive manufacturing are developed, the part 3D technologies will play in environmental preservation gets more and more clear. Whether it is to design furniture, decorative pieces or everyday objects from recycled materials, 3D printing has proven its efficiency on various occasions and shows a lot of potential for future environmentally friendly projects. You can find out more at R3direct’s website HERE.

Photo credits : R3direct

What do you think of the USE benches, the initiative developed by R3direct? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedinFacebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.

*Cover Photo Credits: R3direct

One comment

Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.

  1. TDHofstetter says:

    Vast waste of resources. 3D printing is NOT an efficient means of making benches like that, far from it. They should be blowmolded instead.

Leave A Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

de_DEen_USes_ESfr_FRit_IT
Stay Updated
Every wednesday, receive a recap of the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox.