Plastic is a versatile and widely used material, but it also has numerous harmful effects on the environment, human health, and ecosystems. Some of the detrimental impacts of plastic include; Pollution, Marine Pollution, Microplastic Contamination, Threat to Wildlife, Environmental degradation, Waste management problems and other health risks. This is why we need to take action to slow down the abundant production of plastic, because the more they are produced the more harm they may cause. One of the most popular methods to stop plastic production is to recycle them.
There are various companies around the world which have taken the responsibility to find methods to recycle plastic and to supply it to other companies. One of them is the Dutch startup Van Plestik 3D. This start-up prints recycled plastic products. A 3D printer is used which utilises plastic waste as feedstock. This way the company helps in recycling plastic to make other products which include, waste bins, chairs, plant pots, tables, etc. This way the companies can upcycle their products and also reduce their carbon footprint. The company, Van Plestik has a design studio where all the transformation happens. They have developed their own 3D printers which can process plastic waste easily so that they can be upcycled easily. These plastic raw materials can also be transformed into high-quality and affordable objects.
The company’s founder, Nout Kooij is a designer, marketer and plastics expert. Then there is the head of business operations and strategy, Roos Bouman, who makes sure everything runs smoothly at the company. The member of the company, Harald den Breejen, is the 3D printer Engineer and focuses on the process of the printers and the production. He even tests new materials and work on new designs.
The start-up has its own mission, such as; creating beautiful products, providing knowledge about the plastic problems and saving as much plastic as possible. They believe in providing smart solutions to environmental problems and they want to contribute to saving the environment by producing technology such as 3D printers so that plastic waste could be processed if it cannot be recycled. They have already worked with various other companies and proved that plastic waste can very much be used again. This way, more people can come forward and contribute to this approach to handling plastic waste. They also aim to have this impact internationally, so that big companies can reduce their plastic waste.
The 3D printers have a very specific design which helps them work even with slightly contaminated plastic waste. The printing line is also a bit thick as it avoids contamination during the process and guarantees the production of larger objects but makes it more difficult to print small or very detailed products.
In the end, the company is meeting its goal and helping in upcycling plastic waste as much as it can. Hence it is helping in reducing the carbon footprint of other companies.
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