Plastic with a Twist: Why We Print with Planet-Friendly PLA

Emma Topping
21 hours ago
3 min read

At Jiggle Pals, we’re all about bringing joy to your shelves — but not at the planet’s expense. That’s why every one of our wiggly little creatures is printed using a material called PLA, and no, it’s not just because it sounds fun to say.

Let’s take a quick dive into why PLA is our material of choice, what makes it special, and how we’re going a step further to help the environment — one recycled Pal at a time.

So, What Is PLA?

PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a plastic, but not the kind clogging up oceans or sticking around for centuries. It’s made from natural, renewable sources like corn starch or sugarcane, not fossil fuels. That means the carbon footprint to produce PLA is significantly lower than traditional plastics — and that’s already a big win for the environment.

Even better? Under the right industrial conditions, PLA is compostable, breaking down into harmless natural compounds instead of lingering in landfill forever.

Why We Chose PLA for Jiggle Pals

We didn’t just want to make toys. We wanted to make better toys. That meant thinking carefully about our materials from the very beginning. Here’s why PLA fits our mission:

Eco-Friendly: Made from renewable crops, PLA helps reduce dependency on oil-based plastics.
Low-Waste Printing: 3D printing with PLA means we only use the material needed — no mass production or factory leftovers.
Safe for Homes: PLA doesn’t release toxic fumes during printing, making it a safer choice for home and small-scale manufacturing.
Strong & Detailed: It’s sturdy enough to hold all those wonderfully wiggly joints and fine details that make each Pal pop.

Did You Know?

If a plastic dinosaur and a corn cob had a baby — you’d get PLA. Sort of.

PLA is made by fermenting sugars from crops like maize into a lactic acid, which is then transformed into plastic-like granules. That means your Jiggle Pal has more in common with your kitchen compost bin than your recycling bin.

But What Happens When a Pal Retires?

While PLA is technically compostable, it’s not something you can throw in your garden compost heap. It needs high temperatures and special conditions to break down properly — which most curb side recycling services don’t provide.

That’s why we offer the Jiggle Pals Recycling Return Scheme. If your Pal’s ready for retirement (or you’ve just got a few extras you no longer need), send them back to us. We’ll handle the recycling on your behalf using responsible processes that keep plastic out of landfill and give your Pal a second life.

Recycling with us is simple:

Pop your unwanted Pals in a small padded envelope.
Send them to:
Jiggle Pals Returns, 19 Fellows Road, Cowes, PO31 7JN
Include your name and email so we can say thank you — and maybe even send you a surprise!

What Our Fans Say

It’s so nice knowing my kids are playing with something that isn’t harming the planet. And being able to send them back when they’re done? Brilliant.

Katie, Jiggle Pals fan and eco-minded mum

Every Wiggle Counts

Using PLA is just one part of our commitment to making Jiggle Pals as planet-friendly as possible. We pack using minimal materials, we print to order to avoid waste, and we’re always exploring ways to be even greener.

So next time you give a Pal a wiggle, you’re not just making someone smile — you’re doing something good for the Earth, too.