Why we launched ReFill 3D Printing Filament in the UK
Most kerbside recycling in the UK isn’t set up to handle the plastics filament spools are made from, so a lot of it ends up as landfill or general waste, regardless of good intentions.
Filamentive opted for cardboard spools due greater recyclability, however, cardboard spools can potentially cause issues for Bambu Lab AMS users, as cardboard can deposit residue on the AMS rubber rollers, potentially leading to feeding or retraction issues, so this is not the optimal for high-volume Bambu Lab users.
In 2024, ReFill was our answer: the same PLA, refilled into a spool you already own, with far less packaging waste per kilogram printed. When we launched it, we thought of it as a meaningful but niche option — a good choice for customers who already cared about sustainability, sitting alongside our standard spooled range rather than replacing it.
Two years of sales data tell a different story.
The data: ReFill vs. Standard Filament Spools, two years on
Comparing the two 12-month periods since launch (July 2024–June 2025 against July 2025–June 2026), and looking specifically at ReFill PLA against the equivalent single-use spooled PLA:
- ReFill unit sales are up 81% year-on-year.
- ReFill revenue is up 95% year-on-year — growing faster than units, meaning customers are buying more colours and refilling more often, not just switching once.
- Sales of the equivalent single-use PLA spool are down around 30% over the same period.
- ReFill’s share of our core PLA range has grown from under half of units sold to close to 70%.
That last point is the one that changed our thinking. This isn’t a niche product holding steady at the margins. It’s become the default way Bambu Lab UK customers buy filament, and the single-use spool is now the alternative, not the other way round.
What’s driving the shift from Spooled Filament to ReFill
None of this was in our original plan for ReFill. Looking back, three things moved faster and further than we expected.
3D Printer hardware changed buying habits
Bambu Lab has become the UK’s leading desktop 3D printer brand, and multi-colour AMS systems have made spool-swapping a routine part of printing rather than an occasional task. Once changing filament becomes something you do often, refilling a spool you already own starts to make a lot more practical sense than buying a new one every time.
Higher Education getting onboard the Bambu Bandwagon
We didn’t originally build ReFill with higher education in mind. But as universities have shifted their fleets from Ultimaker toward Bambu Lab printers, they’ve brought a different kind of buyer: technicians and lab managers who think in terms of cost per print and waste per print, not just print quality. That’s exactly the calculation ReFill is designed to win.
Sustainability as a real purchase driver, not a nice-to-have
Two years ago, sustainability was often a secondary consideration — something customers cared about, but rarely asked about upfront. That’s changed. More customers now ask about spool waste and recyclability before they ask about colour options or lead times. Refillable filament has moved from “the responsible choice” to “the obvious choice”.
What this means if you’re still buying single-use spools
If you’re still ordering filament the same way you were two years ago, the case for switching to refillable spools has quietly gotten stronger, especially if you use the Bambu Lab AMS. It’s not just about waste, though that reason still holds:
- Cost per kilogram printed typically works out lower once you’re refilling an existing spool rather than paying for new plastic packaging every order.
- Less packaging to dispose of at the point of use, which matters more as institutions and businesses face growing pressure to reduce single-use plastic.
- No compromise on material. ReFill PLA is the same PLA formulation as our standard spools, refilled onto spools designed for reuse.
For higher education specifically, refill filament also simplifies waste management and encourages reuse across busy workshops, where dozens of empty spools can soon pile up.
Bambu AMS User? Shop ReFill 3D Printing Filament in the UK
If you’ve been buying filament on single-use spools, ReFill lets you switch to the same filament with a fraction of the packaging waste, no compromise on print quality. Browse the ReFill range on filamentive.com and see the cost and waste difference for your own print volume.
Already recycling with us? Check whether you qualify for our free 3D printing waste recycling scheme to close the loop further.