3D vision: let there be light

UK lighting brand Plumen has partnered with 3D printing specialist Batch.works to develop sustainable lampshades for its LED bulbs. The collection features five lampshades that are printed ‘on demand’ using recycled plastic.

The shades are produced at Batch.works’ east London workshop using plastic recycled from water bottles, fridges and other waste products. The lampshades are printed using layers of filament sourced from Amsterdam social enterprise Reflow, which recycles and repurposes waste plastics.

Architect Julien Vaissieres founded Batch.works in 2016 and he welcomes a circular manufacturing process. ‘We believe that thinking more carefully about what materials are used and how things are produced is key to combating short-termism,’ he says. ‘That’s why this kind of collaboration is so promising. We believe 3D printing can be scaled to a wider variety of products and become a practical manufacturing method for the future – and that’s what we want to achieve.’