The new word in home construction could be “plastics”

MIT engineers have developed a method to 3D-print construction-grade floor trusses using recycled PET polymers and glass fibers. The printed trusses weigh about 13 pounds each, can be produced in under 13 minutes, and achieved a load-bearing capacity exceeding 4,000 pounds — surpassing US HUD building standards. The process is designed to work with unprocessed 'dirty' plastic, envisioning micro-factories near waste sources that could shred and print structural building components on demand. The team estimates the world needs 1 billion new homes by 2050 and argues this approach could reduce both plastic waste and deforestation pressure from timber demand.