Protoprint

Drive economic development across India by equipping waste pickers.

http://www.socialseva.org/protoprint/

Overview

Protoprint is a social enterprise based in India that empowers urban waste pickers with the technology to convert waste plastic into 3D printer filament. The organization markets the filament globally as a price competitive fair trade alternative to virgin filament while simultaneously using it locally to provide affordable 3D printing services to students and professionals in India. Waste pickers sift through unsegregated garbage dumps separating plastic from organic waste. Protoprint partners with waste picker co operatives to convert the HDPE plastic they collect into 3D printer filament enabling them to earn over fifteen times more for the same amount of plastic.