I would prefer creating virtual objects for this kind of prototyping because they do not produce plastic waste. I wonder if the protopiper device can be used with biodegradable tape.
Interesting thought. The plastic tape is just a representative raw material. The plastic tape can totally be replaced with biodegradable material.
The key idea is to start with something with no structural integrity, the tape as a sheet and give it a good strength to weight ratio by folding it into tube.