Sustainability
Additive manufacturing is inherently a means of production that could improve the sustainability of industries around the world. The very idea of producing by adding only the material needed, instead of removing material in excess, without the need of producing tools could be a game-changer for the global environment. If fewer materials are needed, less are wasted. Producing parts when they are needed, and where they are needed can go a long way reducing overall emissions from industrial production.
The match between AM and sustainability also goes beyond industrial production: the use of 3D printing in construction is emerging as a much more environment-friendly approach, both in terms of workflows and materials used. This has obvious repercussions in the housing industry but also in renewable energy production.
However, the road to making AM a truly sustainable means of production is a long one. Currently, many metal AM processes are high-energy-intensive, many polymers AM processes still waste a lot of – often toxic – materials and construction 3D printing processes are still in their infancy.
As the global economy undergoes a dramatic contraction, an opportunity emerges to further develop AM into a way to produce in a more efficient way: digital, on-demand, additive and distributed manufacturing is now a serious and credible option. It may be the only option to tackle – in one shot – all the social, economic, health and environmental challenges that lie ahead.
-
3D Printz Limited, a fast-growing Shropshire 3D printing products reseller, has teamed up with Fishy Filaments, which turns recycled nylon fishing nets into engineering-grade filament. The company, based at Hortonwood West, Telford, signed this new eco-friendly distribution deal as it continues to expand its product range for the 3D printing…
Read More -
Barberio Colella Architetti and Dr. Angelo Figliola proposed a design to ameliorate temperature perception in Abu Dhabi’s urban microclimates using 3D printed sandstone. The design focuses on a city whose average temperature for 2019 was 28.9 degrees Celsius. The United Arab Emirates’ annual average in 2019 was 29.1 degrees Celsius.…
Read More -
In advance of the International Molded Fiber Association (IMFA) annual conference, the leading event for the molded fiber industry, HP unveiled an innovative and environmentally friendly tooling solution for molded fiber manufacturers. The solution includes the new HP Molded Fiber Advanced Tooling technology, which enables fast and enhanced design and…
Read More -
While some of us spent months of lockdown binge watching TV, others used the time to come up with innovate solutions to existing problems. Such is the case with Lea Randebrock, a Finnish-German designer from the Royal College of Art in London, who developed a sleek food storage solution using…
Read More -
A team from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory has invented a 3D printed absorption device made from aluminum that is capable of capturing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel plants. The innovative device, which can also be used in other industrial processes, could help to curb global emissions of greenhouses…
Read More -
Just over one year ago, 3D printing company HP inaugurated its 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing Center of Excellence just outside of Barcelona. The new building, which spans over 150,000 square feet, is one of the world’s largest and most advanced AM facilities. As it turns out, it is also…
Read More -
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is home to many plant species and, as of recently, a sloth-inspired 3D printed robot. You read that right. SlothBot is a 3D printed robot, designed to look like a sloth, that crawls around the botanical garden monitoring environmental factors, such as weather, temperature and carbon…
Read More -
In yet another fascinating demonstration of the capabilities of construction 3D printing to rebuild marine habitats, architects and marine scientists at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have jointly developed a novel method for coral restoration making use of specially designed, 3D printed reef tiles. The elegant looking structures can…
Read More -
Nexa3D is introducing – with immediate commercial availability – xCLEAN, an effective and environmentally friendly washing solvent that is designed to work consistently with most photopolymer 3D printers and resin systems available on the market. “xCLEAN’s development is a powerful reminder that necessity is the mother of invention,” said Brent…
Read More -
Last fall, Boston-based 3D printing company RIZE, Inc. announced with pride that its RIZE One 3D printer was the first in the world to receive UL 2904 GREENGUARD certification. Now, the company has successfully expanded its portfolio of GREENGUARD certified products, including the XRIZE full-color 3D printer, RIZIUM ST filament…
Read More
