Zero-Waste Juicing Machine Uses 3D Printer To Make Cups From Orange Peels

By John Vibes / Truth Theory

A new prototype orange juicer created by the international design firm, Carlo Ratti Associati, and the power company Eni, utilizes 3D printing technology to create a zero-waste drink dispenser. The juicer is called “Feel the Peel,” and works by turning used orange peels into biodegradable cups.

The juicer stands at about 10-feet tall and has a spiraling rack that can hold up to 1,500 oranges.

The machine works by beginning to squeeze juice from freshly peeled oranges as soon as the customer makes an order.

The leftover peels build up at the bottom of the machine until there is enough material for the 3D printer to make a cup.

While the orange peels are waiting to be turned into cups, they are dried and mixed with Polylactic Acid (PLA), which converts the material into a bioplastic.

Once the material is converted into bioplastic, it is then heated and melted into a mold that is shaped by the machine’s built-in 3D printer.

When this process is complete, the machine spits out a cup and fills it with freshly squeezed orange juice.

Carlo Ratti explained that the purpose of this prototype was to show that consumer products can be designed to encourage zero-waste behavior.

“The principle of circularity is a must for today’s objects. Working with Eni, we tried to show circularity in a very tangible way, by developing a machine that helps us to understand how oranges can be used well beyond their juice. The next iterations of Feel the Peel might include new functions, such as printing fabric for clothing from orange peels,” Ratti said.

The “Feel the Peel” juice machine was first unveiled at a recent event in Rimini, Italy over the summer, and will also be featured at the upcoming Singularity University Summit in Milan on October 8 and 9, 2019.

The video below shows the process in action:

https://www.facebook.com/3DPrinterRSA/videos/675687282927265/