Singapore-based startup Unigons has launched a limited collection of 3D-printed Merlion figurines made from recycled plastic bottles. The company produced 60 pieces of these “Fortune Merlion” collectibles priced at $118 each, featuring 10 different color variations and packaged in blind boxes. Each 18cm-tall figurine includes a pedestal base with a hidden compartment containing six charms with Chinese script.
The manufacturing process requires approximately 30 discarded PET plastic bottles per figurine, with many bottles donated by beverage company Yeo Hiap Seng. Unigons used more than 50 3D printers across Singapore and Vietnam for the project, partnering with local 3D printing startup PlasticTinkers. The production involves separating PET waste from other plastics, cleaning and drying the material, then adding colorants before melting and extruding it into 3D printing filament.
Co-founder Joe Chua, who designed the collectibles, noted that PET is among the few plastics suitable for recycling into 3D printing filaments. “We added colourants to create custom hues before melting and extruding the plastic into filament suitable for 3D printing. It’s not the fastest or cheapest route, but it’s the most meaningful one,” he says. Chua aims to increase the value of recycled plastic from 80 cents to over $50 per kilogram through this approach.
Founded in 2017, Unigons focuses on developing creative technology that prioritizes sustainability. Chua acknowledges that 3D-printed collectibles face skepticism from collectors who often associate them with lower quality, but believes recent innovations in recycling technology are improving the gap between recycled and virgin plastic quality.
Source: straitstimes.com