Transforming hazardous trash into a sustainable second life in a new production chain. Lorenzo Squitieri, an industrial doctoral student at the spin-off Graftonica and member of the research group lead by Roberto Simonutti (Professor of Industrial Chemistry at the Department of Materials Science), discovered this chance while researching asbestos. The researchers, led by Michele Mauri, a researcher in the same department, revealed how asbestos, a historically troublesome material, may be recycled as a helpful component in the development of more easily degradable bioplastics. In summary, asbestos can be converted into a safe mineral powder through the use of thermal treatments devised by Giancarlo Capitani's group (Professor of Mineralogy at the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences). In order to ensure that the process was entirely circular and economically sustainable, the powder was repurposed as a filler and combined with polylactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic that is commonly used in industry and 3D printing. The study examined two types of non-harmful compounds, "red" and "green", created through various techniques. These components were included into PLA using Graftonica's experience in plastic processing processes and used for 3D printing with Fused Granular Fabrication (FGF) technology, which allows for the direct processing of small granules (known as pellets), lowering prices and energy consumption. The findings revealed that the "red" material can be introduced into the bioplastic up to 20% by weight while preserving mechanical properties similar to those of the reference material or slightly enhancing its rigidity. This enables the development of more durable and sustainable goods by decreasing the use of virgin raw materials and repurposing a waste product that poses substantial environmental and health dangers. The "green" material, on the other hand, is created in conditions that allow it to break down PLA molecules with a brief exposure to a temperature of roughly 200°C. Although this variety marginally affects the mechanical strength of the composites, it enables the construction of bioplastics that, at the end of their life, can be degraded "on command", leading to a more sustainable and regulated life cycle. "This research concretely demonstrates how the treatment of hazardous waste is not only an environmental necessity but also an opportunity to develop more responsible and sustainable materials", stated Lorenzo Squitieri, the primary author of the study.