I have a confession: I often toss my tiny scrapbook cuttings into the recycling bin or trash rather than sort and store them because I just can’t even with the mess. Frugal bloggers tell me I should save them all for future projects. Maybe I could build an origami Winnebago or something. But the human spirit can take only so many wee pieces of paper.
Given my own failings, I’m not about to give you shit for the size of your carbon footprint. But you might be interested in a change that I hope will make our small business more sustainable – or, depending on your perspective, a bigger symbol of everything that’s wrong with “woke culture.”
There’s no getting around the fact that laser-cutting, resin art and 3D-printing create a lot of waste. We’re already recycling and reusing whatever we can. We have a large collection of failed cuts and prints that often get recycled into other projects. But MDF wood, PLA plastic and cured resin can’t be recycled in most communities. PLA is technically compostable, but few facilities are equipped to deal with it, so for practical purposes, it isn’t. Other woods are more sustainable, but no one wants to pay a premium for unicorn earrings.
Realistically, there’s nothing we can do with the waste except dispose of it properly, but I’ve made one change. I’ve switched from MDF to acrylic in the designs where it makes sense to do so – specifically, the slime earrings and unicorn earrings – and it will be my first choice moving forward. The wood versions will be available until they run out.
I know what you’re thinking. “But acrylic isn’t any better for the planet than MDF, you colossal twat.”
You’re wrong. I’m only a gargantuan twat according to Pathfinder rules. But beyond that, acrylic requires no sanding, minimal priming, less paint, and less sealant. With some projects, I can eliminate resin entirely and still get great results. And I don’t have to wear a respirator to make them anymore. We live in the best of all possible worlds.
As we continue to look for ways to make Masterwork Tools more sustainable, we’re happy to hear suggestions and changes you’ve made in your crafting. Share your ideas in the comments.