A team of designers has introduced Loop, a specialized 3D printer concept aimed at recycling plastic cups in restaurants or cafés. The device is designed to resemble standard beverage dispensers, allowing it to integrate seamlessly with existing restaurant and café equipment.
The system consists of multiple components including a grinder module, heating chamber, cooling chamber, and filament extruder. These components work together to process used plastic cups into new functional items, with a primary focus on producing scrubbers and other restaurant consumables.
The concept addresses a significant issue in the 3D printing industry: waste management. Traditional 3D printing processes often generate support structures that frequently end up in landfills, despite being technically recyclable. Loop aims to provide a practical solution to this problem within the food service sector.
The project was developed by designers Minjoeng Kim, Yoonjeong Lee, Songhee Kim, Changyu Seo, and Geunyeong Do. Their system incorporates a points-based reward mechanism to encourage customers to return their plastic cups, promoting active participation in the recycling process.
The device is proposed in two color variants: a gray model with silver accents and a beige/cream version with similar metallic elements. Both designs feature a black hotend component and maintain a professional appearance consistent with commercial kitchen equipment.
Via: mensgear.net
Source: behance.net