just a hypothetical speculation, but what is the most sustainable material with which to make something like a model kit? is resin better than plastic for the environment? wood or brass seem like they would have their own problems but may be better.
It depends on what you mean by sustainable, it can mean a lot of different things.
In terms of CO2 production, plastics really can’t be beat at the moment. Their weight relative to other materials makes them cost significantly less CO2 to ship.
In terms of biodegradability, we have composable plastics like PLA but you’re not going to get the properties you want in terms of strength.
If you make a model kit with biodegradable plastic but you have to buy 5 of them instead of 1 because they keep breaking, using ABS is more sustainable in my opinion.
You can do wood sculpting, but I imagine its more expensive. We used to do pewter miniatures a little, but they’re harder to assemble and scratch paint.
Honestly, miniatures are a long form low volume use of plastic and are a drop in the ocean compared to single use packaging, even if the plastic is the same. I believe 40k minis are polystyrene which is the same plastic you see workers crushing down at the end of a grocery fill shift.
just a hypothetical speculation, but what is the most sustainable material with which to make something like a model kit? is resin better than plastic for the environment? wood or brass seem like they would have their own problems but may be better.
It depends on what you mean by sustainable, it can mean a lot of different things.
In terms of CO2 production, plastics really can’t be beat at the moment. Their weight relative to other materials makes them cost significantly less CO2 to ship.
In terms of biodegradability, we have composable plastics like PLA but you’re not going to get the properties you want in terms of strength.
If you make a model kit with biodegradable plastic but you have to buy 5 of them instead of 1 because they keep breaking, using ABS is more sustainable in my opinion.
You can do wood sculpting, but I imagine its more expensive. We used to do pewter miniatures a little, but they’re harder to assemble and scratch paint.
Honestly, miniatures are a long form low volume use of plastic and are a drop in the ocean compared to single use packaging, even if the plastic is the same. I believe 40k minis are polystyrene which is the same plastic you see workers crushing down at the end of a grocery fill shift.