Canadian startup Printearth is creating compostable plastic from renewable sources for 3D printers.
Printearth has figured out how to use compostable plastic made from renewable sources as the source material to 3D print. The product is a starch-based, fully biodegradable material.
Set up by Ottawa University’s alumnus Phil Chiasson, the company’s material is a bioplastic that can be composted using specific commercial composters. The company has just graduated from the university’s Startup Garage incubator.
Current materials used for 3D printers are not made from compostable plastic, and often have a petroleum basis which is harmful to the environment. Printearth has dubbed its material Earthplastic, and trademarked that name. It will fully degrade within a year when exposed to water and soil.
The company is planning to ramp up production soon and is looking for distributors.
Phil Chiasson said: “There was not anything available which was a truly green product, that is where Printearth comes in. In addition to offering compostable polylactic acid, my company is developing a starch based plastic which is 100% biodegradable in soil or water.”