3D printing has unlocked endless possibilities in design, but its reliance on traditional plastics has raised environmental concerns. Two designers are hoping to change that with the ALT Light, a whimsical lamp made from cornstarch-based PLA plastic.
This innovation balances creativity and sustainability, demonstrating how
3D printing can reduce environmental impact by using the more efficient and less wasteful made to order manufacturing method. No inventory to stock and store, and less waste.
At first glance, the ALT Light series of three product models (lamp, compact lamp, and wall lamp) look simple, but there are months of research behind a design that designed to get attention.
Why Cornstarch Plastic?
Most plastics used in 3D printing are petroleum-based, meaning they’re far from environmentally friendly. PLA plastic is different… although not as revolutionary as many marketers would like you to believe. It’s a bioplastic, made from organic sources like cornstarch, and it is biodegradable under controlled conditions.
PLA isn’t perfect. It does require some very specific conditions for decomposition, but it’s still a step toward greener manufacturing.
PLA allows for intricate designs while reducing reliance on harmful materials. In the case of ALT Light, it does more than offer sustainability—it enables a playful, candy-like aesthetic that’s hard to achieve with traditional methods.
Designed To Stand Out
Designed by Alexandre Touguet and Lise Rissel, the ALT Light blends form and function.
ALT Light’s design is bold and dynamic. Its base features vertical ridges, creating texture and intrigue. The form flares upward into a half-formed conical lampshade, giving the impression of movement. The result? A lamp that feels alive, as if it’s breaking free from its structure.
The translucent top adds character. Depending on the finish, the lamp either mimics the glow of jelly or the solid sheen of hard candy. Ribbed surfaces play with light and shadow, creating mesmerizing patterns that shift with the lamp’s position.
Its playful appearance adds a touch of joy to any space, and its unique features include:
● Innovative Shape: The lamp begins with a rectangular base featuring vertical ridges. As it rises, the design transitions into a partial conical lampshade, creating a dynamic, “breaking-free” effect.
● Materials and Texture: The ribbed surface adds texture, creating mesmerizing light-and-shadow interplay.
● Candy-Like Appearance: The translucent top resembles hard candy, while the transparent version evokes jelly, giving the lamp a cheerful, whimsical vibe.
Each lamp has minute imperfections due to its 3D-printed origin, making every piece one of a kind.
Sustainability Without Compromise
ALT Light isn’t just about aesthetics. The lamp is designed to minimize material waste. Its production process emphasizes reducing material waste, using only the exact amount of cornstarch plastic needed for each lamp. Compared to traditional manufacturing, this minimizes leftovers and streamlines the workflow.
Tiny imperfections in the manufacturing process means no two lamps are identical. That means that each lamp is designed and crafted to be unique, adding charm while staying true to sustainable principles.
Looking beyond just one lamp, cornstarch plastic opens the door for alternative material sources in 3D printing, encouraging designers and manufacturers to explore eco-friendly options. While PLA isn’t a perfect solution, it’s part of the larger movement toward sustainable innovation.
Three Different Styles
ALT Light S Wall Light
The ALT Light S wall light shares the soft, candy-like aesthetic of the collection with a version that you can attach to your wall.
Retails for $148 and is available in three color combinations.
ALT Light L Lamp
While the lamp is simple in appearance, it’s the result of several months of research to obtain translucency in the material. The designers then focused on producing the most optimal rendering to save as much material as possible.
Priced at \$274 and available in an array of soft colors along with your choice of a transparent or translucent lampshade.
ALT Light M Lamp
The ALT Light M is the compact version of the L model. It was designed for smaller, more intimate spaces where less light is needed.
The M lamp is available in five color combinations and sells for $169.
Why It Matters
The world produces over 300 million tons of plastic annually, much of which ends up in landfills or the ocean. PLA plastic isn’t a perfect fix, but it’s a step toward reducing waste.
Designs like ALT Light show how alternative materials can spark innovation while addressing pressing environmental issues.
Designers: Alexandre Touguet, Lise Rissel
ALT Design Studio is a product design agency founded by Alexandre Touguet (top) in 2018 and based in Paris, France. Lise Rissel joined the agency in 2023.
The studio equipped itself with high-end 3D printers in 2020 and has since worked to develop new products using this technology. ALT Light is a brand focused exclusively on 3D printed light.
