From Apulian Waste to Original Design Objects: Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) as a Sustainable Solution

Lecce stone is a natural material extracted from quarries in the Salento area (Lecce, Apulia, Italy), and used for building and ornamental elements. Its nature as a non-renewable resource justifies its considerable exploitation; but extraction and processing activities produce waste that creates a strong environmental impact. The Puglia region is also rich in olive trees. Usually, the pruning waste is used as firewood or for furniture. Moreover, the amount of olive wood waste available has increased with the spread of Xylella Fastidiosa. Starting from the problem of waste management and the depletion of non-renewable resources, the goal of the research was to find sustainable alternatives to give a new life to waste produced from local raw materials and creating exclusive handicraft products. Composite filaments with a polymer matrix (based on polylactic acid-PLA) were produced using different waste materials as additives and then used to create “made in Apulia” products, through the use of Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) technology. Finally, an eco-friendly coating was tested to improve the durability of PLA 3D products. This work represents a window into the possibility of creating new systems for reusing local waste materials while promoting sustainable economic growth and a circular economy.