Disposable tableware made from polylactic acid. [Photo/Yongpai app]

Ningbo Homelink Eco-iTech Co is advancing its green materials innovation through bio-based polymers that are increasingly used in 3D printing and sustainable manufacturing applications.

At its Zhenhai facility in Ningbo, the company has built an integrated production system for biodegradable materials, with annual output reaching up to 100,000 metric tons. A growing share of its portfolio is now focused on polylactic acid, a plant-derived polymer used in everything from disposable products to 3D printing filaments.

Over the past decade, Homelink has invested in improving the performance of polylactic acid through material modification, enhancing properties such as heat resistance and impact strength while maintaining its biodegradability. The material is produced from renewable feedstocks, including corn and cassava, converted through fermentation and polymerization into a bioplastic that can break down into water and carbon dioxide under appropriate conditions.

This focus on material innovation has positioned the company within the expanding consumer 3D printing supply chain, where demand for safer and more sustainable filament materials is rising alongside broader adoption of desktop manufacturing technologies.

Chen Lin, deputy general manager of the company, said platforms such as the upcoming Green and Sustainable Development Forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Ningbo provide an opportunity to showcase practical applications of green materials and exchange ideas with international partners.

As sustainability standards tighten across industries, Homelink continues to refine its bio-based material systems and scale up production capabilities, with an emphasis on low-carbon manufacturing and the utilization of renewable resources.