Using commercial printer waste plastics and film to create 100% recycled lanyards

Typical commercial printers produce advertising that uses use layered material composites which are difficult to recycle because of the materials used in the sandwich and adhesive between each layer. A large amount of low density off-cuts are produced during the process which are then disposed of in large quantities. Often requiring 10 commercial bins to contain every month for a small-business commercial print supplier, which is then burnt for energy. Emitting 1.6 tonnes of CO2 for every tonne incinerated, but has a lower energy density than coal or gas.

However, textile fabric, especially for single use events, accumulates significant carbon footprints in both the manufacturing, printing and disposal of these lanyards. Significantly more than plastics.

Automedi is already able to 3D print lanyard components for events from recycled materials. This is composed of card holder and clips made through its circular network of edge additive manufacturing appliances, to combine with conventional fabric ribbon lanyards into a lanyard or access card holder.

This project examines recycling these plastic offcuts into consistent lanyard material to substitute for fabric ribbon; explores the printing of advertising content on that material to complete a fully recycled lanyard and explore further downstream recycling of the lanyard ribbon to match which is already possible with Automedi's holder and clips.