3D Printing Soap: Exploring New Biodegradable Materials and Creative Possibilities 

Jing Xie, Yingting Gao, Jin Yu, Tingyu Cheng, HyunJoo Oh [PDF available upon request] 
In Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '26)​​
Overview
3D Printing Soap introduces soap as a biodegradable, water-soluble, and reusable material for 3D printing. The project presents new recipes for soap-based pastes, a low-cost DIY printer with a custom extruder, and a range of interactive, expressive artifacts. Soap’s accessibility and ephemerality make it a unique medium for sustainable digital fabrication and interaction design.

​Why Soap?
  • Sustainable & Biodegradable:  Naturally breaks down in soil and water.
  • Ephemeral: Dissolves in everyday contexts, enabling transient interactions.
  • Customizable:​Supports color, fragrance, conductivity, and environmental responsiveness.
  • Accessible: Builds on DIY soap-making traditions and open-source 3D printing.
 
How It Works
(a) 3D model, (b) sliced for printing, (c) converted to G-code, (d) printer loaded with soap paste,
​(e) printing process, (f) air-dried form, (g) finished biodegradable artifact.
Customizable Functional Soap Recipes 
​
Who Is It For?
  • ​​HCI researchers exploring sustainable fabrication.
  • Makers & DIY soap-making communities interested in digital tools.
  • Educators seeking safe, biodegradable materials for STEAM activities.
  • Designers exploring ephemeral, interactive, and eco-responsible media.
Research Highlights