While additive manufacturing is known to create significantly less waste than traditional subtractive manufacturing techniques, the amount of thermoplastic materials in use -- particularly at the consumer level -- is ultimately worrying. These materials are not environmentally friendly, but there haven't been many alternatives available. Researchers at the MIT Media Lab, led by Laia Mogas-Soldevila, Jorge Duro-Royo, and NEri Oxman, are leading the charge to create natural biodegradable 3D printing techniques. Via "Water-Based Robotic Fabrication," they have set to work with polysaccharides, a group of natural polymers, to create an alternative material type for 3D printing, which will dissolve in water. Check out the details of their impressive progress in the full article: http://3dprint.com/26786/waterbased-...c-fabrication/ ‎