Three mechanical engineering students from Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) have developed an eco-friendly 3D printing filament made from recycled plastic bottles, aiming to reduce waste while supporting sustainable manufacturing.
The students — Dimas Eka Firmansyah, Lorensius Bima Atmaja, and Fadil Nur Hidayat — designed the project under the title “Development and Application of 3D Printing Products Using Recycled PET-Based Filament Reinforced with Natural Fibers.”
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Their method transforms discarded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage bottles into a filament reinforced with natural fibers to increase strength and durability.
The innovation won first place at the 2025 Creativity and Innovation Competition (Krenova), hosted by the Regional Research and Innovation Agency of Semarang City.
By combining recycled materials with natural fibers, the process reduces reliance on synthetic inputs, lowers production energy use, and cuts carbon emissions.
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The research team said it intends to improve production efficiency and explore industrial partnerships to expand applications of the filament.
The project is also seen as a contribution to the circular economy, creating business opportunities in recycling-based technologies and raising awareness about sustainable waste management practices.