3D Printing: Sustainability Means Local Manufacturing

10/30/23

Part 6 of the 9 Part Series will describe how 3D printing technology influenced the environment during its time.

In a time when we care about the Earth and want to do things better, 3D Printing is changing how we make stuff nearby. Small businesses can use small 3D printers to create parts and products in their neighborhoods. This is good because it means we don't have to send things far away on planes, ships, or trucks, which is better for the planet.

Even big companies like car makers like Ford, Toyota, and BMW. Additionally, energy companies like Shell are using 3D Printing in printing spare parts overseas. They either have their 3D printers or work with local 3D printing services to make parts faster and avoid long supply chains.

Even more remarkable is that this way of making things work even when there are significant global problems, like the COVID-19 virus or issues between countries. During the pandemic, 3D printing provides immediate answers for a broad range of requirements, spanning from personal safety gear to medical tools and isolation units. This adaptable technology is well-equipped to tackle shortages caused by socio-economic shifts and disruptions in supply networks. Companies and makers are starting to see how good it is to make things nearby. It's more flexible, dependable, and better for the Earth.

3D Printing Medical Equipment during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

One company, Mighty Buildings, shows this by 3D printing house walls with recycled stuff. As stated by CEO Basil Starr, "It is always challenging to introduce a new technology and a new product to the market. But Mighty Buildings is a company filled with very smart people who are forward-thinking and are working to solve problems every day. And that's what I appreciate about working with Mighty Buildings… this is the Tesla of Housing!" They want to have 3D printing factories right where they build houses. This changes how we build homes and make things nearby.

Now, making things isn't just insignificant, faraway places. It's more local, better for the Earth, and more efficient. 3D Printing is creating a future greener, where every neighborhood can make things and protect the planet." Now, let's make a shift to something smaller. Something wearable and customizable.

A Visionary Leap: 3D Printing Changes Eyewear

Think about a world where we don't need significant storage places for extra stuff. 3D Printing is changing how we think about eyeglasses. Some eyeglass makers are working with a 3D printing company, Materialize, to make eyeglasses just for you. The vision behind the creation is to explore a realm where creative design and eco-friendly, just-in-time production combine to provide top-tier business flexibility. With their deep expertise in 3D printing for eyewear and specialized manufacturing, you have the advantage of confidently expressing your creativity and ingenuity, providing your customers with the most rewarding experience.

Whether custom frames, exclusive releases, or a complete eyewear collection, they can supply the consistent, duplicable, and expandable quality your brand requires. We don't need piles of eyeglasses that might not be used. Your glasses are made just for you when you want them.

The Company Materialise Promoting their Eyewear

Alireza Parandian, an expert in wearables, said, "Having a surplus of unused glasses that are not the right prescription is a big problem for the eyeglass business. The dream is to offer new eyeglasses in different materials and make them as fast as we need them. Using the material for 3D Printing also helps reduce waste and the problem."

Now, eyeglass makers can make what you need quickly. 3D Printing is changing how we get glasses, making them personal and unique. We don't need piles of eyeglasses that might never be used. Thanks to 3D Printing, every pair of glasses is like a work of art made just for you.

Keywords: Sustainability, Local Manufacturing

Would you change out your current glasses with 3D printed customizable durable ones?