AlfaPak 3d, the filament that values recycling -

AlfaPak 3d

AlfaPak 3d: the filament that values recycling

Filoalfa's collaboration with Tetra Pak has resulted in AlfaPak 3d: the 3d printing filament obtained from recycling the plastic/aluminum fraction of beverage cartons.

Alfapak 3d is the newest product in Filoalfa's Ethica line, a range of 3d printing filaments entirely dedicated to the development of sustainable materials.

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Filoalfa is a business unit of Maip Compounding, a historic company on the Italian scene in the development of technopolymers for injection molding, which has been developing increasingly environmentally friendly formulations for its filaments for years, committing itself to waste reduction.

Following this great goal, AlfaPak 3d was born, the filament based on the recycling of beverage cartons from separate waste collection and realized thanks to the collaboration with Tetra Pak.

The need to recycle

A World Bank study predicted that global waste will increase by 70 percent by 2050*, so it is necessary to create circularity in the economy by turning waste into new resources. With this goal in mind, for years Tetra Pak has initiated transversal collaborations with entrepreneurial realities attentive to environmental sustainability and the development of a circular economy, including precisely Filoalfa, Italy's leading manufacturer of 3d printing filaments, which for years has supported the 3Rs strategy in waste management: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

From this partnership was born AlfaPak 3d: a filament obtained from recycled polymers derived from beverage cartons that in this way acquire a new life.

The production process of AlfaPak 3D is a virtuous example of valorizing recycled material.

Derived from the non-fibrous components of beverage cartons, AlfaPak 3d gives a second life to the plastic and aluminum fraction found in this type of packaging. 

It all starts with proper recycling collection. Beverage cartons, i.e., cellulose-based packages for milk, juice, wine, and other foods, collected by citizens in a selective manner are then sorted and sent to the paper mill for recycling. Here the process involves separating the polyethylene and aluminum components from the cellulose fibers, which are then used to produce new paper, while the polyethylene and aluminum fraction is transferred to specific plastic recyclers that turn this fraction into a valuable new raw material.

This new raw material thus arrives at the Maip Compounding plants, where it is transformed, using an innovative proprietary formula, into a 3D printing filament with advanced technical performance, thanks in part to the addition of carbon fiber.

This filament is thus an example of the valorization of recycled materials that marks the beginning of a new era in the FFF 3D printing landscape.

AlfaPak 3d at MECSPE 2023 in Bologna, Italy

The new filament was officially presented to the public during MECSPE through the printing of a series of iconic products signed by Krill Design.

In fact, Filoalfa created a collaboration for the occasion with the Milan-based design studio specializing in the development of eco-design products.

At the Filoalfa stand it was possible to observe the potential of AlfaPak 3d thanks to some products from the Krill Design collection on display: Falesia, the organically shaped magazine rack; Ohmie, the table lamp; and Oasi, the wall clock.
An extraordinary example of circular economy, and how we can contribute to the sustainable development of the industry, respecting the environment and future generations.

*WHAT A WASTE 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050. Source: Worldbank.org (2018)

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