Use Cases Category
   Product Prototyping
   Education
   Creative Design
• 3d Printing Used in Leaf One-way Plate Prototyping
2016-07-17
"It all started with a vision: Outdoor tableware, as renewable and biodegradable as a leaf falling from a tree. We focus on food packaging and one-way dishes. Our claim: outdoor tableware has to be fully renewable and fully biodegradable. After years of designing, prototyping and testing, we’ve succeeded."

The kickstarter program 100% leaf one-way plate has just successfully funded €64,061 with 684 backers. Now the team are ready for automating production to scale it up and to bring leaf products to everyday use.


The leaf plates consist of leaves. And leaves only. The bottom and top layer are made from leaves, stitched together with fibers from palm leaves. No plastics, additives, oil, glue, chemicals,... Only leaves. 


This is not only about outdoor tableware. It is about food packaging. It is about preventing plastic waste. It is about preventing trees from being cut for paper production. It is about the next generations. 

But it's never easy to bring the greatidea to live. Producing something as new and as innovative as the plates needs detailed planning and clear specifications. "We did our homework and tested all elements of the process, challenged every element of our supply chain, and spent months of prototyping. Like this, we got our small scale production up and running."


Without a 3D printer, I bet the prototyping process won't be so efficient. From 3D modeling to rendering, to 3D printing, to decide the best solution. 3D printing make an idea converted into reality without the time and cost limit of traditional modeling. Since now 3D printing,especially FDM printig with PLA material is pretty cheap, the designer could release their imagination and test the designs with no worries.

Here is a plate MBot3d team 3D printed with PLA filament.




A leaf plate can save more than 3 million hectares of wood every year, and 1 billion tons of packaging waste. The Leaf Republic has made it. How about you? If you have something in mind, don't allow any difficulties to crush it down. JUST DO IT. 



Pictures and quotations from kickstarter.com

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