A short, honest note on the materials that hold our objects together.

What we print with

Every AALAY object is printed in one of three primary materials. Each was chosen not for performance, but for responsibility:

• Corn-starch PLA. A plant-based bioplastic, industrially compostable, low-energy to print. Used for our matte ceramic and sandstone finishes.
• Recycled PETG. Sourced from post-consumer bottle flake in Tamil Nadu. Used for high-strength pieces.
• Bio-silk translucent resin. A plant-derived resin that mimics the optical qualities of hand-blown glass. Used for our translucent pendants and chandeliers.

What we don't use

We do not print in ABS. We do not use spray-on finishes. We do not lacquer. We do not ship in plastic foam. The objects you receive come packed in raw cotton, craft paper, and corrugated cardboard — all recyclable, all Indian-made.

A note on waste

Additive manufacturing is, by nature, low-waste. We still generate support material and offcuts. We send every gram back to our pelletiser, where it is re-extruded into a slightly muted secondary colour — used for our Studio line of display pedestals and care kits. Nothing leaves the studio.

Local supply chain

Our resin is compounded in Pune. Our brass is finished in Jaipur. Our cotton packaging is woven in Kanchipuram. Our boxes are made by a small workshop in Vasai. We are not perfectly local, but we are local where it matters.

What's next

We are trialling a take-back programme — return any AALAY object at end of life, and we will re-pelletise it, re-print it, and credit your account. Pilot planned for 2026.