rPLA from recycled PLA | EKO MB
rPLA is made of recycled PLA waste and 2-3% color pigment. It is a very eco-friendly alternative to regular PLA filament manufactured from virgin PLA pellets.
Technical informations
Thermal properties | |
| Vicat softening temperature | 65 °C |
| Drying settings | 55 °C for 3 h |
Filament properties | |
| Country of origin | Czechia |
| Filament density | 1.25 g/mm3 |
| Diameter tolerance | 0.05 mm |
Spool weight and dimensions |
How to store filaments
Humidity and UV light can decrease the filament quality and weaken its mechanical properties. We strongly recommend storing open filaments in a dry and dark place. You can find a complete guide on how to properly store your filament here
Where to throw print fails and supports?
We kindly ask our customers to cope with plastic waste responsibly. Failed prints, support material, rafts, or brims should be liquidated according to the local guidelines. Paradoxically, in most cases, it is better to throw this waste in the regular trash can, as most of the material waste created in 3D printing is not identified, which causes more problems than benefits in the waste sorting facilities.
rPLA from recycled PLA | EKO MB
rPLA is made of recycled PLA waste and 2-3% color pigment. It is a very eco-friendly alternative to regular PLA filament manufactured from virgin PLA pellets.
The mechanical and printing properties should be identical to those of standard PLA, but we don't have a technical data sheet from the manufacturer.
General information about PLA :
PLA is a great material with awesome printability, it is great for novice printers and perfectly works with any printer. Depending on the brand and the type, it mostly differs in mechanical and thermal resistance, and as you may think color. 3D PLA filaments are the most widely printed because of their ease to use and so the producer did want to catch a market share by offering colors beyond the rainbow's colors. PLA was until recently a weak filament with only 50°C heat resistance and very poor mechanical properties. The demand for PLA made producers overengineer the material and some firms managed to put seriously increase this once hobby-only material.
Differences in PLA price usually mean better color consistency, lower in-filament humidity rate, better diameter tolerance, higher thermal resistance (see Volcano PLA from FormFutura), and better stiffness (up to 9x like PolyMax from PolyMaker).
Printability of PLA filament
PLA is the easiest to print material. It is very forgiving and usually, most slicer predefined settings will work well. PLA doesn't warp, has great overhang capabilities, and has a great interlayer adhesion. Most of the time, PLA doesn't even require an adhesive to stick to the hotbed.
PLA mechanical and thermal properties
Regular basic PLA is stiff and not very tough meaning that it can break easily. Its main disadvantage is that it starts softening at 50°C. It is mostly suited for visual prototypes and non-functional models. Because of its ease of print, most brands have modified and pushed the PLA boundaries further making some PLAs suitable for functional prototypes.
Tips and other notable benefits
PLA is so-called "eco-friendly" and is widely used for compostable cutlery. "So-called" because its compatibility is not what you would expect from this word.
Browse all PLA filaments in stock in our warehouse in Senec, Slovakia. For comparison, see also PETG and ECO.
EKO MB makes 3D printing filaments exclusively from recycled plastic. It is a good choice for makers, schools and companies that want to reduce their footprint without giving up everyday materials such as PLA and PETG. JustCreate3D keeps EKO MB filaments in stock in its warehouse in Senec, Slovakia, and dispatches orders quickly.
EKO MB is a branch of a Czech company that processes plastic waste. The raw material comes from post-industrial and post-consumer waste, which is thoroughly cleaned and filtered. The resulting regranulate has properties similar to virgin granulate, so the filament behaves much like its non-recycled counterpart.
EKO MB filaments at JustCreate3D
- rPLA – PLA made from recycled PLA: the easy-to-print option for prototypes, models and decorative parts.
- rPETG – PETG made from recycled PETG waste: tougher than PLA and suitable for functional parts.
- rPET – PET made from recycled bottles: gives a second life to one of the most common packaging plastics.
How to choose
Choose rPLA if you want the simplest printing experience and low warping. Go for rPETG or rPET when parts need more toughness and chemical resistance. Start from your usual settings for the standard material and fine-tune them for your printer.
Frequently asked questions
Is recycled filament as good as virgin filament?
The waste material is thoroughly cleaned and filtered, and the regranulate has properties similar to virgin granulate. For most everyday prints you will not notice a difference in printing behaviour.
Why can the colour differ between batches?
Colour pigments are added during production, but the input waste varies from batch to batch. The shade can therefore differ slightly, so for a large project in one colour it is best to order all spools at once.
Which recycled materials does EKO MB offer?
EKO MB offers three materials: rPLA, rPETG and rPET. You can find other environmentally friendly filaments in our ECO selection.
See all EKO MB filaments or browse the whole ECO filament range.