Sustainability
We strive to use sustainable products whenever possible. Although our sliders are not recyclable themselves, on many of our products we try to reduce waste in non-visible areas of the prints by using filaments that are either fully recycled, supplier "transition" spools (filament purged from manufacturers' equipment when changing colors), or remainders of other spool colors that are no longer used for other products and would otherwise be wasted. In all cases, these filaments are fully compatible with, and of the same quality and durability as, the filaments they are combined with.
All multi-color and multi-material prints are printed using methods that reduce filament waste from nozzle purges and other wasteful actions. Where possible, waste material is reused for other purposes.
We also try to use sustainable and recyclable products in day-to-day operations. Here are a few of the products currently in use with sustainability in mind. For non-recyclable materials, we try to use US-based suppliers, which reduces emissions and other waste from shorter shipping distances.
Currently Used Sustainable Products
| Item | Sustainability | Recyclability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCTG (recycled fillers) | Made from 100% recycled material | Not recyclable | Made in the USA |
| TPU (transition fillers) | Made from 100% rescued transition materials* | Not recyclable | Made in the USA |
| 'Rescued' filament (filler) | Rescued from waste. Unknown recycled content. | Not recyclable | Filament from colors no longer used on other products that would otherwise be wasted. |
| Shipping boxes | Made from 100% FSC® certified (SCS-COC-009926) recycled material | Curbside recyclable** | Made in the USA |
| Shipping labels | Unknown | Recycle-compatible*** | Uses no toner or ink to print. |
| Round stickers | Unknown | Not recyclable or compostable. Remove before recycling the shipping box. | Made in the USA from mixed US/imported materials (unverified) |
| Clear packing tape | Unknown | Not recyclable. Remove before recycling the shipping box. | |
| Packing/wrapping paper | Rescued from waste. Unknown recycled content. | Curbside recyclable** | |
| Printer paper | Made from SFI® certified, plastic-free, sustainable fibers (SFI-01995). | Curbside recyclable | Made in the USA |
Currently Evaluating
| Item | Sustainability | Recyclability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shipping labels | Liners made from 100% recycled material. | Liners and labels curbside recyclable with paper. | Processed Chlorine Free (PCF). Free of BPA, PFAS, and phthalates. Uses no toner or ink to print. Made in the USA. |
| Kraft-paper packing tape | Made from renewable materials. | Recycle-compatible*** | Plastic-free. Made in the USA. |
| Cellophane packing tape | Made from renewable materials. | Recycle-compatible***; industrially compostable**** | Plastic-free. Made in the USA. |
* Filament used during the filament supplier's machinery purge process when changing filament colors.
** After removing any non-recyclable labels and tape.
*** Not recyclable or not easily recyclable, but does not prevent shipping boxes from being recycled. Check local recycling facilities.
**** Can be composted in commercial composting facilities. Check local recycling facilities.