The environmental benefits of 3D printing and the endless potential of innovation as a driver for sustainable development

The role of 3D printing as a driver of sustainable development is based on three levels of benefits: the environmental benefits of 3D printing itself, the benefits enabled by the customer's processes and products and, third but not least, the unlimited innovation enabled by 3D printing. In this blog, we have picked out nine characteristics of 3D printing that will help you to run your business in an increasingly sustainable way.

1. The built-in environmental benefits of 3D printing

Resource efficiency

Products can be optimised to use only the required amount of material, as 3D printing is a material-intensive manufacturing process. This reduces waste and wastage of resources. The design can take into account the properties of different material options, thus reducing the amount of material needed. For example, hollow and material-filled structures can be optimised for their intended use.

Optimisation of materials and new materials

3D printing can use materials that are recyclable, bio-based or otherwise environmentally friendly. Material use should be minimised in all applications, but is particularly important in high-volume production. In the most extreme cases, raw material savings can be as high as 90%, as in the case of 3DStep's Avant Tecno hydraulic block.

For 3D printing, new materials are constantly being developed to meet sustainability criteria, as well as stringent standard and safety requirements. A good way to improve business sustainability is to increase the share of environmentally friendly materials in total production.

Local production

One of the best sustainability benefits of 3D printing is its exceptionally flexible and fast manufacturing process. Products can be manufactured agilely and locally on demand. The local production enabled by powder metallurgy can reduce transport costs quite significantly - and at the same time reduce the carbon footprint. Similarly, a company can also increase its carbon handprint, i.e. the impact of climate-positive actions.

2. Sustainability benefits enabled in customer processes and products

Ecological footprint monitoring

It is now possible for companies to develop systems and tools to monitor and report on their ecological footprint throughout the life cycle of 3D printing. Monitoring and continuous improvement is greatly facilitated by the digital manufacturing process of 3D printing. Through metrics, the perception of the manufacturing process's environmental footprint can be translated into numerical information, allowing for informed and verified impact on the footprint.

Industrial symbiosis

The manufacturing methods and ideologies associated with 3D printing are enabling the extension of ecosystem thinking to this business sector. Industrial symbiosis offers an exciting opportunity for companies to join forces and for one company to exploit the by-products of another. This improves the resource utilisation ratio and reduces the amount of waste. Progress can be measured in terms of resource, material and energy efficiency. 

Free innovation and experimentation

A major sustainability benefit of 3D printing is also linked to the free innovation and experimentation it enables. The threshold for prototyping and experimenting with materials is very low, which also encourages increasingly innovative solutions, experimentation and iteration in design. This allows for agile product improvements, including from an environmental and sustainability perspective. A wide range of metrics can be used for monitoring, such as quantity, quality and speed of product innovation.

3. Infinite x Infinite - sustainability benefits from continuous development and innovation

Circular economy

3D printing can be a key enabler of the circular economy. Products can be designed and manufactured to be recycled and reused efficiently. Measurement is a very concrete way of doing this: developments can be monitored by measuring the volume of reuse of products and materials.

Continuous improvement in energy efficiency

Responsible 3D printing aims to use the most energy-efficient equipment, processes and renewable energy possible. Products are designed to be energy efficient in use. The longer the life of the product, the more tangible the results. Metering can be based on information on the amount of energy required for production, the share of renewable energy in the total amount of energy used and the energy efficiency of the product's use.

Research and innovation

Investment in research and innovation continues to lead to new, more environmentally friendly 3D printing materials and processes. Innovation is also delivering environmental benefits by allowing 3D printing to agilely experiment and iterate on products that have never before been manufactured or tested in use. Development results can be measured, for example, by the number of development processes and deployments of eco-efficient technologies.

The potential of 3D printing to contribute to sustainable development is significant and complex, both for individual companies and for the wider community, but the benefits will only be realised in real-world applications. Has the time come for your company to take a leap forward on the path to sustainability? Get in touch - there are endless opportunities available today.