All our pieces are printed in PLA, the most widely used material in 3D printing. Here's what it is, and what it isn't.
What is PLA?
PLA stands for polylactic acid. It's a bio-based plastic: instead of being made from oil, it is produced from renewable plant resources, most often corn starch or sugar cane. These sugars are fermented into lactic acid, which is then turned into a plastic thread (the “filament”) that our printer melts layer by layer.
Why we chose it
- Plant-based rather than petroleum-based.
- Low printing temperature (around 200 °C), with no strong smell, using less energy than other technical plastics.
- Bright pastel colours and a clean finish, perfect for kawaii objects.
- Rigid and light: ideal for decor, desk items and keyrings.
What about “biodegradable”?
We'd rather be honest: PLA is compostable only in industrial composting, in facilities that keep it at around 58 °C with controlled humidity. In nature, in your garden or in a home compost bin, it breaks down very slowly, like most plastics. So your piece won't vanish from your shelf, and it should never be thrown away in nature.
That's also why we don't use the word “biodegradable”: French law bans it on products, because it suggests an object can be thrown away anywhere with no consequences.
The best thing to do: keep it for a long time
- An object you keep for years is the greenest object. We design our pieces to last.
- Broken piece? Write to us before throwing it away, we'll see what we can do.
- At the end of its life, a PLA object goes in general household waste or to a recycling centre, not in the compost bin and never in nature.
Caring for your piece
- PLA softens at around 55–60 °C: avoid the back shelf of a car in summer, the dishwasher and radiators.
- A soft cloth or a little warm soapy water is all it needs.
- Our items are not intended for contact with food.
- The fine lines on the surface are normal: they're the layers of the 3D print, the signature of an object made to order.