Smart Materials 3D Converts Oysters, Pine, and Cork into 3D Printing Materials, Advancing Sustainable Economic Development

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November 12, 2025 Applications 9770

Sustainable Additive Manufacturing Material Developer Smart Materials 3D offers a range of functional filament consumables, including fiber-reinforced materials for industrial applications and pellets for large-format 3D printing technologies. However, what truly earned it a nomination for the upcoming Formnext exhibition's Sustainability Award is the SMARTFIL ECO brand. The brand's products include a series of filaments and pellets based on various organic waste and biopolymers, containing no additives or pigments.

Located in Alcalá, Spain, Smart Materials 3D is dedicated to converting agro-industrial waste—including olive pits, oyster shells, coffee grounds, cork, etc.—into 3D printing materials. Its first eco-friendly material was inspired by the abundant agricultural by-products in the province of Jaén: olive pits. With over 630,000 hectares of olive trees, Jaén produces almost half of Spain's olive oil, inevitably generating a significant amount of olive pits. Typically, these pits are discarded or incinerated for fuel, but Smart Materials 3D proposed a new approach: drying and micronizing the olive pits, then mixing them with PLA to create a functional 3D printing material compatible with FDM and LFAM systems.

A 3D printed chair made from PELLETSMART OLIVE material

Following the success of OLIVE, Smart began working on synthesizing more organic waste, thereby building a diverse SMARTFIL ECO material portfolio. Today, this brand encompasses various 3D printing consumables, including: OYSTER—incorporating oyster shells, presenting a ceramic-like texture; PINE—blended with PEFC-certified pine wood powder, available in seven natural tones; COFFEE—made from 18% recycled coffee grounds sourced from local cafés; ALGAE—incorporating 15% dried spirulina; and CORK—a 100% recyclable material with thermal insulation properties. Each material is noted for its natural pigmentation, with COFFEE even emitting a unique aroma.

The Bcc Milano Lounge at Milan's Arcimboldi Theater

SMARTFIL ECO materials have a wide range of applications. For instance, Italian furniture design company Elli used OYSTER material when customizing furniture for the Bcc Milano Lounge at Milan's Arcimboldi Theater. Elli chose this material for several reasons, including its sustainability advantages, material strength, refined aesthetics, and alignment with Elli's "Made in Italy" standards.

Furthermore, all materials developed by Smart Materials 3D adhere to a circular economy model, aiming to minimize the use of virgin plastics and reduce the company's carbon footprint. In the selection process for the 2025 Formnext Award, this Spanish material developer stands nominated in the sustainability category alongside other outstanding companies: other nominees include Continuum, with its Greyhound Melted Powder (M2P) platform that converts aerospace-grade waste into high-performance 3D printing alloys; and EOS, which developed a new material filtration system capable of reducing waste and emissions in metal additive manufacturing by up to 90%. The winners of the 2025 Formnext Award will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 20, 2025.