3D printing technology produces a lot of cool stuff, but it also produces a lot of non-biodegradable waste. 3D printing with recycled materials and developing a process where Makers can recycle plastic to create their own filaments are welcome innovations. PLA, a go-to filament is also a step in the right direction, as it is biodegradable and made with renewable resources like cornstarch, tapioca roots, or sugarcane. But, recently a biologist and designer have announced that they are prepared to bring 3D printing sustainability to the next level.
Industrial designer Guillian Graves and biologist Aakriti Jain have announced the development of Growduce, an amalgamation of a compost heap and a bio printer. Jain tells Fast Co. Design, “We envision something like a coffee maker or toaster in your kitchen. Our microfactory would be a part of the future home.” This future household appliance will turn waste, yeast, and bacteria into cellulose shapes.
At the moment, Growduce is basically a fermentation tank that feeds off of compost and, within weeks, turns it into cellulose (a naturally occurring polymer). When this cellulose material is dried or baked, it creates a sterile type of dead skin, like vegan leather. So far, they’ve experimented with bacterial cellulose, testing different shapes, colors, textures, and additives. Initial experiments have suggested that the material would work well for bandages or gloves, but there are still a lot of possible uses on the horizon.
In the future, the Growduce might be your go-to for disposable tableware, like picnic cups and plates. Think of all the unnecessary packaging and transportation waste made just to bring you plates that you will throw away (hopefully recycle) after one use. This is exactly the kind of household item that you can theoretically make at home with the Growduce. Regarding the potential gross factor of dining on an object made out of a yeast-bacteria growth, Jain explains that they “understand this perhaps requires a shift in thinking about the materials we use, but people actually drink this and they are alive and healthy!” Jain is referring to the fact that the Growduce relies on SCOBY, a colony of yeast and bacteria that many fermented beverages like kombucha and ginger beer contain.
The plan is to release all of Growduce as open-source content for people to experiment with in the privacy of their own homes. Hopefully, then Growduce will move out of the testing phases and into a full-scale working product. Regardless, the thought behind the Growduce concept is a powerful one. As Jain says, “Growduce embodies a thought process and a potential shift in the way we think about materials and the production process.”
