Exploring commercial PHA filament for more eco-friendly 3D printing

• Using 3D printing for prototyping results in plastic waste that is hard to manage. • Commercial PHA filament prints as good as PLA, except for increased warping. • 3D Printed PHA is generally mechanically weaker than PLA, although is tougher. • 3D Printed PHA initiated biodegradation in home environments, unlike PLA. • PHA is a promising material to supplement or replace PLA for eco-friendly 3D printing. This study explores a new-to-market polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) filament as a drop-in replacement for polylactic Acid (PLA) to reduce the environmental impact of FFF 3D printing. It provides insights into printability, mechanical performance, and biodegradability. PHA demonstrated comparable aesthetic print outcomes to PLA but exhibited bed adhesion issues and lower mechanical strength, except for toughness. Significantly, PHA samples recorded noticeable biodegradation within months under indoor soil and home compost conditions. These findings offer practical insight into the real-world performance of pure PHA filament, supporting its potential for low-load, eco-conscious prototyping applications where post-use home biodegradability is a desirable and achievable outcome.