By Matt. Z
10/18/23
Part 2 of the 9 Part Series will describe how 3D printing technology influenced the environment during its time.
In a world where sustainability has transcended the realm of mere buzzwords to become an urgent, collective imperative, large and small companies bear a significant responsibility. The clear call to address waste, pollution, and the voracious consumption of energy and raw materials echoes from governments, trade associations, and conscientious consumers. In this idea of shared values, regardless of size, every player must find their role in the quest for a more environmentally harmonious future.
The spotlight, ever so intensively, has been trained on shifting our focus from the ingrained "take-make-waste" thinking to a new paradigm centered on the virtues of reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, and recycling. This radical shift promises to minimize the rapacious use of raw materials while lowering the specters of waste, pollution, and carbon emissions.
For instance, the European Union has boldly set a target to ensure that all European plastic packaging is recyclable by 2030, ushering in a transformative era in the journey towards sustainability. And what does this ambitious directive have to do with 3D printing? The answer, as we now realize, is both ingenious and eco-conscious. Consumer-grade thermoplastics, traditionally utilized in packaging, now emerge as a cost-effective and sustainable source for 3D printing. Recent studies have extolled the merits of harnessing waste plastics as high-value feedstock for additive manufacturing, thereby breathing life into a new facet of environmental stewardship.
Consider the case of the venerable German automaker Audi, a trailblazer in sustainable innovation. Audi's novel initiative involves shredding the industrial packaging it receives and repurposing it as filament for its 3D printers, effectively crafting factory tools from what was once mere packaging waste. This transformation is a tangible testament to the transformative potential inherent in additive manufacturing.
Below is a downloadable PDF copy about how 3D printing has influenced the automotive industry by Audi repurposing their packaging.
Document Credit: Mareike Hieber & Lisa Forst
In the vision of an aspirational circular economy, a utopian realm where everything created finds a new life through recycling, every 3D printing endeavor could utilize recycled materials as its raw material. Furthermore, these materials can be recycled or repurposed once the printed part has outlived its utility. While this grand vision may not yet be fully realized, the landscape is adorned with promising examples, and the market boasts a growing array of recycled plastics suitable for 3D printing.
In this hopeful narrative, 3D printing emerges as a beacon of environmental stewardship. Today, it enables companies to curtail their reliance on raw materials, generate less waste, and avail themselves of various ecologically friendly advantages. As we delve into 3D printing, we discover seven compelling avenues through which this technology spearheads the mission to make the corporate world go green.
KEYWORDS: Sustainability, Green Trade Association, U.S. Department of Energy, Eco-consciousness. Revolutionizing Sustainability 3D Printing, Environment, take-make-waste cycle, Audi, European Union, 3D Printing, Reshapes Sustainability.
Do you believe 3D printing can help improve the automotive industry?
Yes, 3D Printing has the potential to create a better future
No, I still feel skeptical about its implications.
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